Eight people have been sickened in a Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taste restaurant in South Haven MI. At least 14 other suspected cases have occurred since June in the southwestern part of the state.
State health officials are asking people who recently ate at Taste and are now suffering symptoms such as watery diarrhea and stomach cramps to see a doctor. Cyclosporiasis can be treated with antibiotics, if untreated symptoms can last for months.
State health officials say other restaurants may be identified as the investigation moves forward and that the outbreak does not appear to be linked to sub-standard food safety practices at Taste. They are working with local authorities on traceback investigations of suppliers to the restaurant and reviewing food histories of the confirmed case-patients.
Cyclospora, a parasite native sub-tropical climates, is often associated with travel to developing countries. But summertime outbreaks linked to imported produce are now regularly reported. Since 2013, when an outbreak was linked to salad at Olive Graden and Red Lobster, restaurants and their customers have become familiar with the hardy parasite that wreaks havoc with GI tracts.
Last summer, Cyclospora outbreaks were linked to salads sold at McDonald’s and Del Monte veggie trays sold at Kwik Trip stores. And last week, an outbreak has been linked to Cooper’s Hawk restaurant in Jacksonville, FL.
Pritzker Hageman food safety attorneys have represented clients in all of those outbreaks. In fact, no other law firm in the U.S. has represented more clients in recent large-scale Cyclospora outbreaks. If you got a Cyclospora infection after eating at Taste or another restaurant, use the form below to contact Pritzker Hageman’s winning Cyclospora Team.
