(KTXL) — A well-known California food producer is now being examined in connection with a widening cyclosporiasis outbreak, according to a new report.
The Washington Post, citing two people familiar with the federal inquiry, reported Thursday that investigators have identified iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms to Taco Bell locations as a potential source of the contamination.
CNN and other news outlets have also reported that investigators are looking into Taylor Farms as they work to determine the source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Taylor Farms, founded and based in Salinas, California, calls itself the “leading global producer of salads and healthy fresh foods.” Beyond California, the company operates production facilities throughout the United States, as well as in Mexico, Canada and Europe.
The outbreak has been concentrated in Michigan, where state health officials say more than 4,300 people have been diagnosed with the illness. More than 100 of those patients have been hospitalized. Additional linked cases have been reported in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.
Taco Bell, which is owned by Yum Brands, confirmed earlier this week that it had removed several ingredients from its menu while the investigation continues.
Taco Bell provided the following statement to Nexstar on Thursday evening:
“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 affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states.
While no official advisory has been issued, we believe public health is a shared responsibility among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities, and we are proud to have consistently acted quickly and proactively to protect our guests. Taco Bell has taken precautionary action, and we encourage all relevant restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators to do the same.”
Neither Taylor Farms nor the U.S. Food and Drug Administration immediately responded to requests from Nexstar’s KTXL for comment.
The illness, caused by the parasite cyclospora cayetanensis, is typically spread through food or water that has been contaminated by human feces, the department explained. It can cause extreme and watery diarrhea.
However, because it takes at least 1-2 weeks outside the body for the cyclospora to become infectious, person-to-person transmission is unlikely.
