WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local authorities, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections potentially linked to garden salads sold at Aldi, Hy-Vee and Jewel-Osco grocery stores. The investigation applies only to the grocery stores’ salads labeled as “garden salads” and not to any other types of store brand packaged salads sold by the retailers.

The outbreak so far has been linked to garden salads in the retailers’ Midwest locations, including Aldi Little Salad Bar Brand Garden Salad sold in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri, all Hy-Vee Brand Garden Salad sold in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska, and Jewel-Osco Signature Farms Brand Garden Salad sold in Illinois.

“The FDA is working with the companies to determine the source of the products, but in the meantime, we are issuing a public warning to consumers to avoid the identified products to prevent additional infections,” said Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response at the FDA. “While there is no widely available method to DNA-fingerprint Cyclospora, the epidemiologic investigation has identified grocery stores and products linked to illnesses caused by this parasite.

“The FDA continues to stand ready to respond to outbreaks of foodborne illness and we will update consumers as our investigation continues.”

The FDA said there have been 76 illnesses and 16 hospitalizations linked to the outbreak so far, with the most cases taking place in Iowa (28) and Illinois (23).