Taylor Farms, a lettuce supplier in the United States, has announced a recall of its Iceberg Lettuce production. This decision comes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. indicated that this particular lettuce is believed to be the source of infection for some cases in the current Cyclosporiasis outbreak.
According to a statement from Taylor Farms, based on information provided by the FDA, Taylor Farms de Mexico has voluntarily removed all Iceberg Lettuce produced in central Mexico from their shelves.
Cyclosporiasis is a disease caused by a parasite that can be present in agricultural products and water sources contaminated by feces. In recent weeks, thousands of people in the United States have been infected. Federal officials announced on Thursday that Iceberg Lettuce provided by Taco Bell has been identified as a potential source of the outbreak, but the supplier’s name has not been disclosed.
Taylor Farms, headquartered in Salinas, California, primarily sells fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as packaged salads and salad combinations. The company has stated that none of their packaged salads or salad combinations are related to the Cyclosporiasis outbreak and do not contain Iceberg Lettuce.
“As a family-owned business, we are deeply concerned for all those who have fallen ill, their families, and many Americans who have lost faith in the safety of fresh produce,” Taylor Farms expressed. “This trust is the result of decades of hard work, and we will do everything in our power to rebuild consumer confidence.”
Epidemiological investigations have shown that 1,644 infected patients had dined at Taco Bell. In the hardest-hit state of Michigan, where there have been over 5,000 cases, 90% of patients who underwent food exposure analysis had consumed Iceberg Lettuce.
The FDA stated in a release that their traceback investigation revealed, “All patients had eaten at Taco Bell before falling ill, and these restaurants all used Iceberg Lettuce from the same supplier in Mexico.” The FDA mentioned that they are cooperating with Taco Bell and the restaurant has committed to stop using lettuce from this supplier.
Taylor Farms mentioned that the suspected contaminated lettuce all came from a single farm, accounting for less than 1% of Iceberg Lettuce supply in the U.S. The company stated, “We have indefinitely stopped sourcing Iceberg Lettuce from that region.”
Taylor Farms’ products have been linked to outbreaks in the past, including their salad mix which was confirmed as the source of the Cyclosporiasis outbreak in Iowa and Nebraska in 2013.