Parasite found in romaine hearts, consumer advisory issued by MDA

Check your refrigerator — state agriculture experts have issued a consumer advisory after a parasite that causes illness was found in romaine hearts sold throughout Minnesota.

According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), an advisory was issued for romaine hearts sold under the brand Ocean Mist Farms and grown in Coachella, California.

Consumers can identify the produce affected by searching for the code 22RHDM2L on the packaging, which is 22 oz. in size.

If you have the product, you should throw it away and not eat it, MDA says.

So far, MDA says no one in Minnesota has reported an illness due to the product, which was sold at the following stores throughout the state (listed alphabetically by store name):

• Bob’s Produce Ranch – Fridley
• Brink’s Market- Chisago City
• Coborn’s Grocery – Hastings
• Daggett’s Fresh Foods – Hinckley
• Driskill’s Downtown Market – Hopkins
• Festival Foods – Andover
• Festival Foods- Hugo
• Festival Foods – Lexington
• Festival Foods – White Bear Lake
• Festival Foods – Brooklyn Park
• Jerry’s Market- North Branch
• Jubilee Foods – Mound
• King’s County Market – Andover
• King’s County Market – St. Francis
• Knowlan’s Fresh Foods – Maplewood
• Knowlan’s Fresh Foods – South St. Paul
• Kowalski’s Market – Eagan
• Kowalski’s Market – Excelsior
• Kowalski’s Market – Eden Prairie
• Kowalski’s Market on Grand – St. Paul
• Kowalski’s Market on Lyndale – Minneapolis
• Kowalski’s Market – Oak Park Heights
• Kowalski’s Market – Shoreview
• Kowalski’s Market – White Bear Lake
• Kowalski’s Market – Woodbury
• Longfellow Market – Minneapolis
• Mackenthun’s Foods – Waconia
• North Market – Minneapolis
• Oxendale’s Market Randolph – St. Paul
• Speedy Market – St. Paul
• Super One Plaza – Duluth
• Super One West – Duluth
• Super One – Two Harbors

Mayo Clinic says symptoms of an infection caused by the parasite may happen within two to 11 days of eating or drinking contaminated items and may include:

• Frequent and watery diarrhea
• Diarrhea alternating with constipation
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Bloating, flatulence and burping
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle aches
• Fever
• Fatigue

Mayo Clinic adds diarrhea may end by itself within a few days, or last for weeks, however, it can be treated with an antibiotic.