FDA traces Cyclospora outbreak to single Mexican farm; Taylor Fresh Foods pulls all central-Mexico iceberg lettuce

Independent farm represents less than 1% of U.S. iceberg lettuce supply, company says

Produce supplier Taylor Fresh Foods said it was voluntarily removing all of the company’s iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market, after the Food and Drug Administration traced a parasitic outbreak to shredded lettuce produced in the country.

“Based on information provided yesterday by the FDA, Taylor Farms de Mexico is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico,” the California-based company said in a statement.

A company spokesperson said that while the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm as the potential source, the company has removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely. The company said that no other Taylor Fresh Foods products were affected and that none of its Taylor Farms-branded salad kits contained iceberg lettuce.

The Cyclospora outbreak has led to cases in more than 30 states, according to federal health officials, with more than 90 people hospitalized. More than 1,600 people who became ill in the outbreak reported eating at Taco Bell locations in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, the FDA said.

On Thursday, Yum Brands’ Taco Bell said it had voluntarily removed potentially affected lettuce in select states after federal health officials linked the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at its restaurants in those states.