Added Melissa’s Organic Fresh Basil as a reminder of Salmonella illnesses

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

Melissa’s organic basil, sold in 2-ounce and 4-ounce packages at Dierberg stores in Illinois and Missouri between February 10 and 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 and Fruit Center Marketplace stores from February 1 through April 6 due to the outbreak, which sickened 12 people, including one had to be admitted to hospital.

Although basil is no longer available for purchase, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asks people to watch for symptoms of Salmonella infection and seek medical attention after eating fresh basil. Doctors must report such infections to public health officials to help investigate the outbreak.

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

Infinite Herbs brand fresh basil was sold in Trader Joe’s stores in Alabama, Connecticut, Washington DC, 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 the contamination and whether additional products are linked to illness.

About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria usually does not look, smell or taste spoiled. Anyone can become ill from a Salmonella infection. According to the CDC, infants, children, seniors and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.

Anyone who has eaten fresh organic basil and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctor about possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria, because special tests are needed to diagnose salmonellosis. Symptoms of Salmonella infection can mimic other diseases, often leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of a Salmonella infection may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. However, in some cases, the diarrhea can 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 serious illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people become infected without becoming ill or showing symptoms. However, they can still spread the infections to others.

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