Federal health officials are investigating a massive Cyclospora outbreak linked to produce. The parasite, which causes “explosive” diarrhea, has infected thousands of people.
Donald Prayer, acting deputy commissioner for food, said Monday that evidence is starting to “converge” on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, sourced from Central Mexico, as the main culprit.
The Food and Drug Administration immediately dismissed competing theories as false positives and advised consumers to avoid the potentially affected lettuce.
Taylor Farms is recalling iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and has begun removing it from store shelves.
However, removal may not immediately solve the issue. The lettuce was sold as recently as Thursday across dozens of states, including at Walmart stores under the Marketside brand. Some products have best-by dates as late as Aug. 3, meaning affected items could still be in consumer refrigerators.
The FDA encourages consumers to inspect salad and lettuce purchases made over the past week to ensure they were not sourced from Taylor Farms de Mexico in Guanajuato, Mexico.
Retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia sold 12-ounce and 24-ounce Iceberg Salad packages with best-by dates between July 18 and Aug. 3, as well as 8-ounce and 16-ounce Shredded Lettuce packages with best-by dates between July 18 and Aug. 3.
Authorities and distributors have recalled 33 other types of lettuce across additional states. A full list of recalled products is available on the FDA website.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned the public to stop eating shredded lettuce from Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The fast-food chain responded Friday, stating it no longer uses Taylor Farms lettuce and has removed all affected products from its supply chain.
Currently, only lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms de México has been identified as a source of suspicion in the parasitic outbreak. The FDA said it will inform the public if additional sources are identified.
Varieties, such as romaine or butter lettuce, do not appear to be affected, even those produced by Taylor Farms. The CDC warning applies only to lettuce associated with the outbreak, while Taylor Farms assured consumers that their other products are safe to eat.
Several food businesses reassured the public about the safety of their products. Health experts suggest buying produce directly from local farmers, noting that while contaminated irrigation water poses a risk, local sourcing may carry a lower likelihood of large-scale contamination.
Health officials urge consumers to practice proper food safety by thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables, peeling produce when possible, or cooking food to 158 degrees Fahrenheit to kill parasites.
