Taylor Farms has issued a voluntary recall of its bagged shredded iceberg lettuce in 27 states after federal investigators linked the product to a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened people across 34 states.
The recall follows an investigation that identified Taylor Farms as the supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants and tied to the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
The recalled shredded iceberg lettuce was distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The company also announced it is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market because it may be contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite.
“Consumers who have purchased the recalled iceberg lettuce should discard it immediately and not consume it.” Taylor Farms said in a statement. “Full refunds are also available at the location of purchase. Consumers experiencing health issues should contact their physician.”
Taylor Farms said it has stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, notified customers, and is continuing to work with the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state health officials.
The company said no other Taylor Fresh Foods products are affected by the voluntary recall, adding that none of its Taylor Farms-branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce.
The announcement came one day after The Washington Post reported that federal investigators had identified Taylor Farms as the supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce linked to the outbreak, citing two people familiar with the investigation.
According to the CDC, at least 1,645 cases have been reported in the United States this year, which is roughly six times the number reported during the same period last year.
Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by a parasite. Symptoms include severe diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, nausea, and fatigue. While infections usually increase between May and August, this year’s surge has been unusually large.
Taco Bell said Thursday that it had already removed potentially affected lettuce from a supplier, though it did not identify Taylor Farms by name.
TACO BELL BEING INVESTIGATED FOR CYCLOSPORIASIS OUTBREAK IN MICHIGAN
“Based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell has taken immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states,” the company said in a statement. “The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states.”
Previous cyclosporiasis outbreaks have been linked to imported produce, including raspberries, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, snow peas, and basil, according to the CDC.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
