Noah McCrory
Is this bag Stanley’s new mug?
Trader Joe’s has pulled Infinite Herbs brand basil from its shelves in 29 states after a salmonella outbreak sickened 12 people.
The organic basil was sold in 2.5-ounce plastic clamshell containers, according to a Wednesday declaration from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The health organization said people who purchased the basil should not eat it, but rather throw it away or return it to Trader Joe’s.
On Friday, the basil recall was expanded to include Infinite Herb’s fresh organic basil sold under the Melissa brand in 2-ounce and 4-ounce packages, sold at Dierberg stores in Illinois and Missouri between February 10 and 20, from agreement with a Statement of April 19 of the US Food and Drug Administration.
FDA
Seven of the 12 people who became sick after eating basil purchased or likely purchased the product at Trader Joe’s, according to the release. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration he said Wednesday that the people who fell ill are spread across seven states: Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
One person was hospitalized, the agencies added.
Salmonella poisoning can cause serious illness, especially in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of the infection usually occur within 12 hours to three days of eating contaminated food and include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.
On a declaration posted on its website, Infinite Herbs CEO Grego Berliavsky said the company voluntarily recalled some 2.5-ounce packages of fresh organic basil sold between February 1 and April 6 with UPC 8 18042 02147 7 due to the potential for contamination with salmonella.
“I am heartbroken to think that any item we sold could have caused illness or discomfort,” Berliavsky wrote.
FDA
Basil has been removed from Trader Joe’s stores in 29 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and is no longer expected to be available for sale. The impacted states are:
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- new York
- North Caroline
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhodes Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
FDA
Trader Joe’s he said in a statement that people who purchased the basil can return it to the store for a refund. Customers can also call Trader Joe’s at (626) 599-3817 or email customer service here.
