FDA findings trigger two recalls as CDC officially declares a salmonella “outbreak”

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The Centers for Disease Control has declared a multistate salmonella outbreak connected to the recalled products. As of the last CDC update, 13 people have gotten sick -- five in California, two in Oregon and one each in Texas, Utah, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho and Missouri. Three of those people have been hospitalized.

Salmonella found by the FDA in International Harvest’s organic coconut caused two recalls that, between them, cover 29 states ranging from Maine to Arizona.

About three hours after a Monday FDA e-mail announcing the recall of International Harvest’s Go Smiles organic raw coconut in both bulk and bagged form, the recall of Natural Grocers’ store brand Coconut Smiles Organic posted to the FDA site. All Coconut Smiles Organic 10-ounce bags packed before Friday should be tossed or returned for full refund.

A Natural Grocers spokesperson said in a Monday e-mail to the Miami Herald its Coconut Smiles Organic products are manufactured by International Harvest.

Salmonella soiled 2018 for coconut even before six people who ate Coconut Smiles Organic got sick. The Centers for Disease Control says the sick count on a January salmonella outbreak connected to frozen shredded coconut has reached 27 people in nine states, hospitalizing six.

Salmonella is one of the most common foodborne sicknesses, usually striking with diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 hours to three days after infecting a person. It can be particularly dangerous to the elderly, babies, and people with weakened immune systems. Infected aneurysms and endocarditis can strike if salmonella gets in the bloodstream.

The Go Smiles organic raw coconut was sold by both brick-and-mortar retailers and online retailers as well as wholesale distributors in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, Utah, Vermont and Washington.

Organic Go Smile! Dried Coconut Raw sold in a 9-ounce bag has these sell by dates: 010118, 020118, 030118, 040118, 050118,060118, 070118, 080118, 090118, 100118, 110118, 120118, 010119, 020119 and 030119.

In bulk form, the coconut was sold as Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw in a case labeled with lot Nos. OCSM-0010, OCSM-0011 and OCSM-0014. The notice reminds retailers that sold in bulk to clean and sanitize the containers.

Consumers can return the coconut to its place of purchase for a full refund. Anyone with questions can call International Harvest at 914-699-5600, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As for Coconut Smiles Organic, it’s sold only in the 145 Natural Grocers stores spread among Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Those with questions can call Natural Grocers at 303-986-4600, ext. 80531, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Eastern time.

This story was originally published March 19, 2018 at 3:24 PM with the headline "FDA findings trigger two recalls as CDC officially declares a salmonella “outbreak”."