If you bought basil from Trader Joe’s recently, you may want to go and check the label. Trader Joe’s just announced that the store is recalling their Infinite Herbs Organic Basil for a potential salmonella outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the salmonella outbreak on herbs sold at Trader Joe’s, and health officials said to pull basil from the shelves.
How do you know if your basil was affected? Trader Joe’s announced that any 2.5-ounce clamshells of basil purchased between February 1, 2024 and April 6, 2024 could potentially be contaminated and should be discarded. This outbreak is multi-state, affecting basil sold in the following states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C.
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that can cause food-borne illness, with some nasty side effects that can appear anywhere between 12 to 72 hours. If you’re experiencing any stomach symptoms and illness after eating basil, it’s best to seek medical attention. If you haven’t eaten your basil and it was sold within this date range and in the following states, toss it and grab some fresh herbs somewhere else. The basil at Trader Joe’s seems to be the only herb that is affected at this time. The retailer has removed basil from grocery shelves while the herbs are still under investigation. If your product has at all touched other foods, it is best to discard them in case of outbreak and to clean your surfaces and fridge thoroughly.