Parasite concern prompts salad and wrap recall

Boar's Head, Trader Joe's, GFS, and Walgreens are some of the names associated with the recall of certain wraps and salads due to a concern over a parasite that may have infected some romaine lettuce.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a public health alert due to concerns about contamination with Cyclospora associated with beef, pork and poultry salad and wrap products were distributed by Caito Foods of Indianapolis.

Cyclospora infection is an illness caused by the intestinal parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis.

The beef, pork and poultry salad and wrap items were produced between July 15 to 18, 2018, with the either “Best By,” “Enjoy by,” Best if Sold By” or “Sell By” dates ranging from July 18 through July 23, 2018.

Some of the recalled products include:

The complete list of products, product labels, the UPC code numbers and other identifying information can be found here.

The products bear the establishment number “EST. 39985 or P-39985” inside or next to the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distribution centers nationwide.

The problem was discovered when Caito Foods LLC received notification from their lettuce supplier, Fresh Express, that the chopped romaine that is used to manufacture some of their salads and wraps were being recalled.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators and that consumers may be at risk due to the length of the Cyclospora incubation period.

Anyone who bought these products is urged not to eat them.

The products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Caito Foods LLC and FSIS are working together to remove the products from commerce.

Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider, says the USDA.

The incubation period for Cyclospora ranges from two to 14 days, which would include the dates of July 25 through August 6, 2018. Illnesses might not have been reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. For Cyclospora infections this could take up to six weeks.