FDA Investigates Contaminated Lettuce at Taco Bell

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to inspect farms and a facility to locate the source of cyclospora contamination in lettuce from Taylor Farms, which was supplied to Taco Bell.

Following the recent outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce, the FDA’s focus has shifted to the farms in Mexico where the lettuce was grown and the facility responsible for shredding it. This move comes after the connection between Taylor Farms and Taco Bell was established by federal health officials.

Authorities are particularly concerned about whether other food retailers in the US also received the contaminated lettuce. A team from the FDA intends to travel to Mexico to meticulously review records and inspect the farms and shredding facility.

The main objective is to determine how the lettuce became contaminated with cyclospora. This parasite, once ingested, causes severe intestinal distress, including explosive diarrhea, cramping, and bleeding. Symptoms can persist for weeks.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that over 1,644 individuals who dined at Taco Bell prior to their illness were affected by the parasitic infection, with 94 hospitalized. However, several individuals who did not eat at Taco Bell have also contracted the infection.

As the inquiry progresses, Taylor Farms, a significant player in the production of salad greens and vegetables in the US, has brought on board a former White House official from the Trump administration. Executives of the company reached out to the White House on Thursday night to prevent Taylor Farms from being publicly identified as the outbreak source, despite the ongoing investigation.