McDonald’s Saipan free from salad recall

McDonald’s Middle Road staffer Melba Camacho prepares one of the salads that they offer to local customers before being served. McDonald’s Saipan assured the public that their salads are free of the recall that occured in 14 states in the mainland. (Jon Perez)

McDonald’s Saipan is not affected by last week’s recall of its salads from 3,000 of its restaurant franchises particularly in midwestern states in the mainland after a parasite that causes a gastrointestinal illness was found.

McDonald’s Saipan general manager Joe Ayuyu Jr. told Saipan Tribune that the community should not be bothered by the news and assured the community that the salads that are sold in the Middle Road branch is free of the recall. It doesn’t serve salads at its Garapan branch.

“We’re not affected [by] the recall. Only McDonald’s in the 14 states, primarily around the Midwest, were affected by the voluntary move by McDonald’s to suspend salads from their menu,” said Ayuyu.

The fastfood giant stopped the sale of all of its salads in 14 states last Friday after more than 50 people complained of being sick allegedly due to eating salads bought from McDonald’s restaurants in 14 states.

McDonald’s franchises in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, and Missouri including Montana, Kentucky, and West Virginia were affected by the salad recall.

Ayuyu said that the American fastfood giant is also coordinating with their franchisees in the said 14 states until they can find a new supplier of their lettuce.

He added that lettuce that McDonald’s Saipan uses for its salads are from California, particularly in the cities of Vernon and Salinas. “McDonald’s Saipan is safe and not affected. Since our lettuce originates from Vernon and Salinas in California.”

They are also supporting the local farmers and businesses with the other vegetables and ingredients are bought locally.

He added that salads sold on Saipan are made from scratch in their two stores with cleanliness and the safety of their consumers the number one priority.

Reports released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention cyclosporiasis caused the illness of the people who allegedly consumed the salad. Cyclospora is a non-lethal gastrointestinal illness caused by parasites found from feces.

Diarrhea, vomiting, and fatigue are the symptoms of cyclospora where the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is singling out the lettuce allegedly found in the salads as the possible cause of the illness.

The FDA, on its website, said they—including the CDA and state and local officials—are already investigating the multistate outbreak of cyclospora that is being linked to the salad from the popular fastfood chain.