Miami Herald

Salmonella outbreak causes Trader Joe’s to recall a Doral firm’s herbs in 29 states

- BY DAVID J. NEAL dneal@miamiheral­d.com

Trader Joe’s took herbs made by a Miami-area company off the shelves of stores in 29 states and issued a recall of those already sold after a CDC and FDA investigat­ion linked the herbs to a salmonella outbreak.

Which basil did Trader Joe’s recall?

This recall involves Infinite Herbs Organic Basil from Feb. 1 through April 6 at Trader Joe’s stores in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvan­ia, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, Connecticu­t, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachuse­tts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New

Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

The basil came in 2.5ounce clamshells.

Seven of the 12 people in the outbreak “purchased or likely purchased” the organic basil from Trader Joe’s.

Infinite Herbs is run out of Doral by President, Secretary and Treasurer Grego Berliavsky and Vice President of Operations Dalmiro Rodriguez, state of Florida records show.

WHAT IS SALMONELLA?

Salmonella’s among the most common foodborne illnesses, making 1.35 million people in the United States sick each year, hospitaliz­ing about 26,500 and killing about 420. Usually, it just means four to seven days of stomachach­es, fever and diarrhea. As with most foodborne illnesses, those under 5 years old and over 65 years old are in greater danger of getting the worst salmonella symptoms.

HOW WIDESPREAD IS OUTBREAK?

Official counts of salmonella outbreaks tend to be significan­tly under the actual number of people sickened. Most people just suffer through without seeing a medical profession­al and get better.

So far, this outbreak includes 12 people in seven states. One of those people has been hospitaliz­ed. Minnesota reports four people ill. Florida reports three. Reporting one each are Missouri, Georgia, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

If you have this basil, return it to Trader Joe’s for a full refund or throw it deep into the garbage where the curious pets can’t get to it and make themselves sick.

If you have any questions, call Trader Joe’s at 626599-3817 or via sending an email.

David J. Neal: 305-376-3559, @DavidJNeal

 ?? FDA ?? Infinite Herbs Organic Basil sold at Trader Joe’s has been recalled.
FDA Infinite Herbs Organic Basil sold at Trader Joe’s has been recalled.

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