Recall linked to record outbreak of diarrhea parasite upgraded to highest risk level… ‘reasonable probability of death’
A recall issued last month for thousands of produce products linked to an outbreak of a parasite that causes explosive diarrhea has now been classed as the most serious risk level.
The FDA on Thursday classified the Taylor Farms de Mexico recall from July as Class I, indicating ‘a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.’
The classification applies to more than 236,000 cases of 21 products, including chopped iceberg lettuce, iceberg lettuce salad kits, shredded iceberg lettuce, lettuce blends including iceberg and romaine, and garden salad mixes.
The original recall was issued on July 17 due to possible contamination with the cyclospora parasite, which causes cyclosporiasis.
Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal infection that leads to sudden and painful diarrhea. The US is now reporting record locally acquired numbers of the infection, at least 17,180 confirmed cases, with nearly 12,000 more cases still under investigation.
There have been 922 hospitalizations and two deaths. Forty-eight states and Washington, DC are reporting cases.
The recalled products were distributed to 27 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
The outbreak of cyclospora was first identified in July and linked to shredded lettuce served at certain Taco Bell locations (stock image)
A full list of specific products can be found in the FDA’s updated enforcement report.
The outbreak of cyclospora was first identified in July and linked to shredded lettuce served at certain Taco Bell locations.
Taco Bell then stopped using lettuce in its menu items.
Shortly after, produce supplier Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico that the CDC and FDA said was linked to the outbreak.
However, it was then revealed that the positive test result for cyclospora in a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce was a false-positive.
The company has stated that no further testing of its products has detected the pathogen.
In a statement at the time, Taylor Farms said: ‘No Taylor Farms branded salads or kits are associated with this cyclospora outbreak.
‘As a family-owned and operated company, we are deeply concerned for those who became ill, their families, and the many Americans whose trust in the safety of their fresh produce has been shaken.
‘That trust is something we’ve worked for decades to earn, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to restore that confidence.
‘Based on information provided yesterday by the FDA, Taylor Farms de Mexico is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.
‘No Taylor Farms branded salads or kits are associated with this outbreak. No Taylor Farms branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce.
‘While the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm, which represents less than 1 percent of the US’s iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source of the outbreak, we have removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely.’
Despite this, Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said in an interview with CNBC earlier this month that the FDA is ‘very confident that the iceberg lettuce from central Mexico was the culprit.’
No other possible source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak has been named or confirmed, leaving consumers confused over what is safe to eat and what isn’t, despite reassurances from health leaders.
Diamantas added that the FDA ‘remains confident that all iceberg lettuce related to the cyclospora outbreak has been effectively removed from the market.’
The Department of Health and Human Services followed up in a social media post: ‘Cyclospora: contained, American food: safe.’
And the CDC’s cyclosporiasis surveillance page says it is investigating multiple clusters of the infection, ‘including the large multistate outbreak linked to processed iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico.’
