FDA Investigating Illnesses Tied to Mexican Basil

Mexican basil

UNITED STATES – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating cases of illness tied to basil imported from Mexico. It appears that consumers have developed cyclospora illnesses after ingesting basil from the company Siga Logistics de RL de CV, of Morelos, Mexico. Cases of cyclospora illness have been documented in the state of New York.

The outbreak involves multiple states, and the FDA is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state officials, to investigate the cause and trace the source. Current analysis of consumers’ illnesses by the CDC has found that basil from Siga Logistics de RL de CV is likely the source.

So far, cases of cyclospora illness potentially linked to the basil have been documented in New York, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. There are a total of 132 confirmed cases to date. Consumers would have bought the basil in the fresh produce section at various food stores.

The basil was imported to the United States from Siga Logistics de RL de CV, and the FDA has requested that it be recalled as a precaution. The company has agreed to the recall, and the FDA will be continuing to investigate how the outbreak occurred. The FDA said in a statement that it will update consumers with additional information as it becomes available.

At this time, the FDA is urging consumers to not buy, consume, or serve any fresh basil that has been imported from the company Siga Logistics de RL de CV. If consumers are not able to tell what company distributed the basil, they should avoid all fresh basil from Mexico. If consumers cannot tell if the basil is from Mexico, the FDA advises not to consume it.