Melissa’s brand organic, fresh basil added to recall linked to Salmonella illnesses

Another brand of fresh, organic basil has been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella infections.

Melissa’s-brand organic basil sold in 2-ounce and 4-ounce packages at Dierberg’s stores in Illinois and Missouri between Feb. 10 through Feb. 20, has been added to a recall by Infinite Herbs, LLC, of Miami, FL.

The company already recalled Infinite Herbs-brand fresh organic basil sold at Trader Joe’s stores and Fruit Center Marketplace from Feb. 1 through April 6 in relation to the outbreak, which has sickened 12 people with one requiring hospitalization.

Although the basil is no longer for sale, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking people to watch for symptoms of Salmonella infection after eating fresh basil and seek medical treatment. Doctors should report such infections to public health officials to aid with the outbreak investigation.

“If you previously purchased recalled basil and then froze it, you should throw it away if it’s part of the recall or if you cannot tell if it’s part of the recall,” the Food and Drug Administration said in an outbreak update today.

The Infinite Herbs brand fresh basil was sold in Trader Joe’s stores in Alabama, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont and Wisconsin.

The outbreak investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products are linked to illnesses. 

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has eaten any fresh organic basil and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

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