Federal officials focus on Taylor Farms after initial Taco Bell inquiry
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that the number of states linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak through lettuce had risen from nine to 15.
Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Carolina were added to the list, which already included Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The CDC’s state-linked count is separate from the broader number of reported cases. Cyclosporiasis cases have been reported in at least 47 states this year, and investigators are continuing to examine how many may be connected to a common contaminated source.
The illness is caused by Cyclospora, a parasite. The source material did not provide a case count for the outbreak or a total number of illnesses linked specifically to the lettuce investigation.
Investigators initially focused on lettuce served at Taco Bell. Federal officials later said they were focusing on Taylor Farms as the source of the lettuce involved in the outbreak.
Taylor Farms has removed iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico from the market. The source did not specify the quantity of lettuce removed or the locations where it was sold.