California-based supplier Taylor Farms, which supplied shredded iceberg lettuce to Yum Brands’ Taco Bell restaurants, has been identified as a potential source of contamination in the cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands in the US.
Citing two people familiar with the investigation, the Washington Post on Thursday reported that this year’s outbreak of cyclosporiasis has been largely concentrated in southeastern Michigan, where over 4,300 cases have been reported so far, and at least 100 people have been hospitalised.
What did the investigation reveal?
According to the report, the CDC officials said this week that they identified a possible link among cyclosporiasis cases from four states, including Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, providing the agency’s strongest public evidence yet that many of the illnesses are connected to a common source. Earlier this week, an official from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that its investigation involves several produce items, including lettuce.
The report, citing one of the sources, said, “The signal we have gotten is that there is a very high percentage of people who got sick at Taco Bell, and when investigators asked what their menu items were in common, lettuce came up frequently.”
Further, when the FDA asked Taco Bell where they sourced their lettuce from, Taylor Farms’ name emerged, and not just for the Taco Bell stores in Michigan but also for restaurants in three other states.
What is Cyclosporiasis?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People can become infected by consuming food or water that contains the parasite. Cyclosporiasis is not usually life-threatening. Symptoms for cyclosporiasis usually begin about 2–14 days after exposure and may include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue.
This is a developing story. More details awaited.
