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Cyclospora causes recall of organic herb sold by Publix, Kroger, Target and others

Cyclospora found by the Florida Department of Agriculture ignited a run of organic basil recalls that hit the store brands of some of the nation’s biggest grocery sellers, an FDA-posted recall notice announced Tuesday night.

Not that most of those grocers were in a hurry to tell consumers about it.

As of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, the websites of Kroger, Albertson’s, Safeway, Food Lion, The Fresh Market and Target didn’t list the recalls of organic basil sold under their house brands.

While Publix’s Greenwise brand wasn’t involved, the company did list the That’s Tasty organic basil sold at Publix. That’s Tasty is owned by Shenandoah Growers, which made all the organic basil being recalled.

Tuesday’s notice didn’t say in whose brand the state of Florida discovered cyclospora. But when Southeastern Grocers — the parent company of Winn-Dixie, Fresco Y Mas, Harveys and BI-LO — announced the recall of its Naturally Better organic basil Friday, it said that cyclospora was found on it.

The CDC describes symptoms of cyclospora infection as including “watery diarrhea (most common); loss of appetite; weight loss; cramping; bloating; increased gas; nausea; and fatigue.” Without treatment, these maladies can hang around for a month or longer.

What’s been recalled:

Food Lion’s Nature’s Promise, 4-ounce, 2.5-ounce and 0.5-ounce clamshells, lot Nos. PV14334E297 and PV14334B296.

Nature’s Promise Organic Basil
Nature’s Promise Organic Basil FDA

The Fresh Market, 0.5-ounce clamshells, lot No. PV14334C296.

The Fresh Market Organic Basil
The Fresh Market Organic Basil FDA

Kroger’s Simple Truth, 3-ounce clamshells, lot Nos. PV64308B294 and PV64308D297.

Simple Truth Organic Basil
Simple Truth Organic Basil FDA

O Organics, house brand at Albertson’s, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco and others, 0.66-ounce and 4.0-ounce clamshells, lot Nos. PV14334C297 and PV14334E297.

O Organics Organic Basil
O Organics Organic Basil FDA

Southeastern Grocers’ Naturally Better, 0.5 clamshells, lot Nos. PV64308C296, PV64308A300, PV64308D300.

SE Grocers Naturally Better Organic Fresh Cut Basil
SE Grocers Naturally Better Organic Fresh Cut Basil Southeastern Grocers

Target’s Good & Gather, 0.5-ounce clamshells, lot No. PV64308E304.

The label to Target’s Good & Gather Organic Basil
The label to Target’s Good & Gather Organic Basil FDA

That’s Tasty, 2-ounce and 3-ounce clamshells, lot Nos. PV64308E295, PV64308E296, PV64308A298.

That’s Tasty Organic Basil
That’s Tasty Organic Basil FDA

Wild Harvest, 0.25-ounce, 2-ounce and 4-ounce clamshells, lot No. PV14334C296.

Wild Harvest Organic Basil
Wild Harvest Organic Basil FDA

These should be thrown out or returned to the store for a full refund.

Anyone with questions can call Shenandoah Growers at 844-896-6939, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, Eastern time.

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This story was originally published November 25, 2020 at 6:50 AM with the headline "Cyclospora causes recall of organic herb sold by Publix, Kroger, Target and others."

David J. Neal
Miami Herald
Since 1989, David J. Neal’s domain at the Miami Herald has expanded to include writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old school animation, food safety, fraud, naughty lawyers, bad doctors and all manner of breaking news. He drinks coladas whole. He does not work Indianapolis 500 Race Day.
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