Salmonella Outbreak Triggered By Salads Made In Illinois: CDC

ROCHELLE, IL — A multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections is linked to salads produced in Illinois, federal officials announced Thursday.

An investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration found that eight Salmonella Typhimurium infections — at least five in Illinois and three in Wisconsin — may have been caused by eating BrightFarms Sunny Crunch salad produced at a greenhouse in Rochelle.

BrightFarms issued a voluntary recall for its salad products with "best by" dates before July 29, including Nutrigreens, Butter Crisp, Harvest Crunch, Mighty Romaine, 50/50 Spring & Spinach, Spring Crunch and Spring Mix.

Affected products were sold at Mariano's Fresh Markets, Walmart, Strack Van Till, Sullivan's Foods, Caputo's, Jewel-Osco in Illinois, at Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, Copps, Tadych's and Walmart in Wisconsin, at some Walmarts in Iowa and at Strack Van Till in Indiana.

According to the CDC, the number of cases is likely higher than eight, as some people recover without seeing a doctor or ever being testing for Salmonella, and the outbreak may have spread beyond areas where it has already been identified. The most recent illness onset was June 15, according to the FDA.

Labeled "fresh from Rochelle, IL," the Sunny Crunch brand packaged salads have been distributed to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin, according to the company, which grows produce hydroponically at its Ogle County facility.

"Growing in a greenhouse allows for control over everything in and around the greens, so you can trust your salad is ready to eat, right out of the box," according to its website. "While field-grown greens might say ‘triple-washed’ — BrightFarms greens are clean from farm to table. No rinsing required."

Federal regulators advised members of the public not to buy, serve or eat the Sunny Crunch salad, a hybrid of both iceberg and green leaf lettuce.

"Throw it away or return it to where you bought it," the CDC recommended. "Even if some of the salad was eaten and no one got sick, throw the rest away or return it."

Symptoms of Salmonella, a bacterial infection, include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps and usually begin within a week of exposure. Most people recover without treatment after four to seven days, according to public health officials.

Children, seniors and those with weakened immune systems are at risk of more severe illnesses that may require medical intervention. There have been no Salmonella hospitalizations or deaths linked to this outbreak, according to the FDA.