US health authorities are bracing for weeks of cyclosporiasis cases as a foodborne illness outbreak linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce spreads. The outbreak, which has seen at least 34 states report cases, is believed to have originated from Taylor Farms' Guanajuato facility in central Mexico. The company has recalled potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce in 27 US states, including products distributed as recently as Thursday.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the investigation is ongoing, and additional implicated brands, restaurants, or distribution channels may be identified as the investigation continues. The FDA has warned against eating shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in five US states.
Taylor Farms, which supplies products to major retailers like Costco, Target, and Walmart, has not specified the brand names of the products or where they were served and sold. This has complicated the recall, with stores, restaurants, and consumers attempting to understand which products may be contaminated.
The company's recall notice states that the lettuce has the potential to be contaminated with Cyclospora, a parasite that embeds in produce. There are concerns that other products grown or processed in the same facility may also carry the parasite, as well as potential risks from producers in the same area if they shared contaminated water.