A to remind issued last month for thousands of products linked to an outbreak of a parasite that causes explosive diarrhea has now been classified at the most serious risk level.
The FDA on Thursday classified the Taylor Farms de Mexico recall from July as Class I, which denotes “a situation in which there is a reasonable likelihood that use of or exposure to an infringing product will cause serious adverse health effects or death.”
The classification applies to more than 236,000 cases of 21 products, including chopped iceberg lettuce, iceberg lettuce salad packets, shredded iceberg lettuce, lettuce mixes including iceberg and romaine, and garden salad mixes.
The original recall took place 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 numbers of the infection acquired locally, at least 17,180 confirmed cases, with nearly 12,000 cases still under investigation.
There have been 922 hospitalizations and two deaths. Forty-eight states and Washington, direct current report cases.
The recalled products were distributed to 27 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, ConnecticutFlorida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, MassachusettsMaryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jerseyohio, oklahoma, PennsylvaniaSouth Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
The cyclospora outbreak was first identified in July and linked to shredded lettuce served at select Taco Bell locations (stock image)
A complete list of specific products can be found in the FDA’s updated enforcement guidance report.
The cyclospora outbreak was first identified in July and was linked to shredded lettuce served at certain Taco Bell locations.
Taco Bell then stopped using lettuce in its menu items.
Shortly thereafter, supplier Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled Mexican-grown iceberg lettuce, which the CDC and FDA said was linked to the outbreak.
However, it was subsequently revealed that the positive test result for cyclospora in a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms was a false positive.
The company has stated that no further testing of its products detected the pathogen.
In a statement at the time, Taylor Farms said: “No Taylor Farms brand salads or kits are associated with this cyclospora outbreak.
“As a family-owned business, we are deeply concerned for those who have become ill, their families and the many Americans whose confidence in the safety of their fresh produce has been shaken.
“That trust is something we’ve worked decades to earn, and we’re doing everything we can to restore that trust.
“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 brand salads or kits have been linked to this outbreak. No Taylor Farms brand salad kits contain iceberg lettuce.
“While the FDA traceback identifies a specific independent farm, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source of the outbreak, we have removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely.”
Still, acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said in an interview with CNBC earlier this month that the FDA “is confident that iceberg lettuce from central Mexico was the culprit.”
No other possible source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak has been named or confirmed, leaving consumers confused about what is safe to eat and what is not, despite reassurances from health leaders.
Diamantas added that the FDA “remains confident that all iceberg lettuce associated with 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 multi-state outbreak linked to processed iceberg lettuce from central Mexico.”
