‘We are confident': Taylor Farms releases statement amid cyclosporiasis outbreak - NBC 5 Chicago

What the report says

NBC Chicago reports that Taylor Farms issued a new statement Friday as federal and state health officials continue investigating a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak. The CDC expanded the investigation from five to nine states, adding Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. Taylor Farms de Mexico, a Taco Bell supplier, has been scrutinized as a possible source, though the company said an FDA product test that had indicated Cyclospora was later determined to be a false positive.

According to NBC Chicago, Taylor Farms said it has not had confirmed positive product tests tied to the outbreak and described its recall actions as precautionary. The company said it removed potentially implicated products, broadened a recall to include all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, and voluntarily stopped iceberg lettuce sourcing and production from that region. It also said independent experts are reviewing food-safety practices at its central Mexico facility.

The CDC reported at least 1,947 infections connected to the nine-state investigation, with 98 hospitalizations and no deaths. Officials said all cases in the investigation involved reported exposure to Taco Bell, and the FDA said Taco Bell indicated it is no longer using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. Illinois health officials reported 513 confirmed and probable cases as of July 23 and said they are intensifying their inquiry after the state was added to the CDC investigation.

NBC Chicago said the recall covers Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce distributed to restaurants, food-service locations and some Walmart stores across multiple states. Health officials advised consumers, restaurants and retailers not to use recalled lettuce, to discard it, clean any surfaces it touched, and seek medical care for symptoms such as sudden, persistent diarrhea, especially after recent exposure to shredded iceberg lettuce.