The ‘Sunflower Crunch’ salad kits made by Fresh Express are making headlines In another multi-state E. coli outbreak linked to salad products. Eight people were sickened and 3 have been hospitalized.
Is This The Same As The Romaine Lettuce Recall?
The CDC says this is a different strain of E. coli than the one that prompted the romaine recall. However, the ‘Sunflower Crunch’ salad kits do contain romaine lettuce. Now, the source of the contamination has not yet been identified, so it’s possible officials could trace this back to the same region in Salinas, California. This is only a possibility as the investigation is ongoing. So it’s also entirely possible officials will trace it to a different growing region, or a different cause entirely.
Should I Throw Out My ‘Sunflower Crunch’ Salad Kit?
In short, yes. If you have a ‘Sunflower Crunch’ salad kit with a best-before date up to December 7th, the CDC recommends you throw it out. You can also check the UPC code on your bag and toss all kits with number 0 71279 30906 4, with a lot code beginning with ‘Z’. Even if you’ve already eaten some of it and feel fine, it’s best to avoid the risk of getting sick. Those who did get sick came down with hemolytic uremic syndrome – a type of kidney failure that can be life-threatening.
How Long Does It Take To Get Sick?
Once you’ve ingested E. coli, it can take anywhere from 2 to 8 days to notice symptoms like fever, cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. If you know you’ve eaten a ‘Sunflower Crunch’ salad and develop any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. It’s better to err on the side of caution than risk potential kidney failure from E coli infections.
