The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that their inquiry into a cyclosporiasis outbreak in five states is ongoing and indicates Taylor Farms’ lettuce as the likely source. The FDA expressed confidence in their findings, pointing to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in central Mexico as the probable cause of illnesses linked to Taco Bell outlets in Michigan and four other states.
Initially, a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce from Mexico tested positive for the cyclospora parasite, but subsequent review by laboratory experts deemed it a false positive. Taylor Farms confirmed that the FDA apologized for the initial testing error and clarified that their voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico was a precautionary measure.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection typically contracted by consuming contaminated food or water, such as raw fruits and vegetables. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak has resulted in over 1,000 illnesses across multiple states, with Michigan reporting the highest number of cases.
Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb stated that despite the flawed test results, epidemiological evidence supported the conclusion that Taylor Farms lettuce was the source of the outbreak. As of July 14, the CDC confirmed over 1,645 cases of cyclosporiasis, with Michigan reporting 6,148 cases associated with the outbreak.
While the outbreak has affected Taco Bell restaurants in various states, Canada has not reported any related cases. The Public Health Agency of Canada affirmed that they are not investigating any cyclosporiasis outbreaks and have not detected cases linked to the U.S. outbreak.
