Toxic basil came from Mexico: officials
2005-07-27
Details are emerging in the case of the contaminated basil that sickened more than 200 diners earlier this month at Manoir Rouville-Campbell in Mont Saint-Hilliare.
Canadian food inspection agents say the basil came from Mexico and not from the Dominican Republic, as was originally reported by several media outlets.
The agency followed the trail of the basil from the diners' plates, to the importer, to the grower, confirming Mexico was the origin.
On July 9th, some 250 customers at Manoir Rouville-Campbel ate basil contaimated with the Cyclospora parasite, which causes symptoms that resemble an extreme case of gastroenteritis.
It was the third case this year in Canada of basil contaminated with Cyclospora.
The two earlier cases were in Ontario in April.
