Produce recalls roll out to combat cyclosporiasis spread

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Produce recalls roll out to combat cyclosporiasis spread 

U.S. companies have begun recalling produce or no longer serving potentially contaminated foods in a bid to combat the spread of the “explosive diarrhea” causing parasite cyclosporiasis. 

© Ethan Miller/Getty Images

More than 1,644 cases have been linked to the current outbreak according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including nearly 100 hospitalizations. Infected individuals reported eating at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. 

The CDC has traced the infection back to a single iceberg lettuce supplier in Mexico. 

On Thursday, Taco Bell announced it was temporarily removing lettuce from some of its locations in response to the outbreak. 

“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 Thursday statement. 

“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,” the company added. 

California-based vegetable producer Taylor Farms on Friday similarly announced it was removing potentially affected products sourced from Central Mexico. 

“While the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm that represents less than 1% of the U.S.’s iceberg lettuce supply as the potential source of the outbreak, we have........

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