Taylor Farms removes all iceberg sourced from Central Mexico

As a family-owned company, we are deeply concerned for those who became ill, their families, and the Americans whose trust in the safety of fresh produce has been shaken. Based on information provided yesterday (16 July) by the FDA, Taylor Farms de Mexico is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce 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 removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely.     No Taylor Farms-branded salads or kits are associated with this outbreak. No Taylor Farms-branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce.      We are committed to doing everything in our power to address this issue, support the ongoing investigation, and help restore trust.   This statement follows the news shared by U.S. health authorities, who have linked the multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in five states. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's traceback investigation identified a supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico that supplied the affected Taco Bell restaurants.   Although not named by the FDA nor the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), other news sources mention Taylor Farms. Located in California and one of the biggest North American players in lettuce, the company operates production facilities throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe. The company did not release a statement yet.      The CDC is also investigating other Cyclospora outbreaks across the United States that are unrelated to the Taco Bell incident.   Taco Bell has stopped using the shredded iceberg lettuce while the investigation continues. "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", the company 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."     
The FDA is also investigating whether lettuce from the same supplier was distributed to other customers in the foodservice sector. According to the CDC, the affected Taco Bell locations are in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Ninety-four people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. At this stage, no recall has been issued. The CDC advises consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in the five affected states.  Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness. Symptoms typically begin about one week after exposure and include watery diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, cramping, bloating, nausea, and weight loss. The CDC notes that routine stool tests do not always detect the parasite and that patients may need to request specific testing.

The impact of the outbreak on the fresh produce industry is big as consumers report refraining from eating fresh produce. Last Monday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services called out lettuce as ''a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation' and advised consumers to purchase whole heads rather than pre-washed, bagged lettuce or pre-mixed salad kits.      This stirred concern inside and outside the industry. "The way it's being handled, it's a way to have people lose trust in the processes in the industry–that's the scariest part to me", said Patrice Riendeau of Le Potager Riendeau Inc. in Saint-Rémi, Quebec.      Many greenhouse growers individually decided to reach out to the public, assuring their produce is safe. "Because our lettuce is grown indoors, it is protected from many of the environmental conditions associated with Cyclospora. We have not been impacted by the current outbreak and remain committed to providing fresh, pesticide-free, greenhouse-grown lettuce that you can enjoy with confidence", KingsOne Farms shared, for example.