Business & Finance
FDA links cyclospora outbreak to Taylor Farms Mexican facility
The major produce supplier suspended central Mexico iceberg lettuce operations following an outbreak that has sickened thousands across the U.S.
The short version
- A cyclospora outbreak has sickened thousands across the U.S., leading the FDA to link the spread to iceberg lettuce processed at a Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico.
- Taylor Farms suspended iceberg lettuce sourcing and processing from the facility and hired independent experts to review safety practices.
- Major buyers including Walmart and Taco Bell pulled lettuce products, while food safety law firm Marler Clark filed multiple lawsuits.
- No positive product sample has been reported by the FDA due to lettuce's short shelf life and the weeks required for cyclospora symptoms to appear.
Key facts
- The FDA linked a nationwide cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands of people to iceberg lettuce processed at a Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico.[CNBC]
- Taylor Farms voluntarily halted iceberg lettuce sourcing and processing at its central Mexico plant and commissioned an independent food safety review.[CNBC]
- Taylor Farms generated approximately $7.3 billion in revenue last year and supplies 40% of salad kits sold in U.S. grocery stores.[CNBC]
- Law firm Marler Clark has filed five lawsuits in Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky against Taco Bell entities and Taylor Farms operators linked to the outbreak.[CNBC]
- Taylor Farms stated it spends over $200 million annually on food safety and denied that its political contributions resulted in favorable regulatory treatment.[CNBC]
What remains uncertain
- The FDA has not reported a positive product sample for cyclospora because testing is delayed by the weeks-long period for symptom onset and the short shelf life of lettuce.[CNBC]