Some large growers and retailers have stopped sourcing produce from a central Mexico region linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak because of concerns about widespread contamination.
Following a health inspection of the company’s plant in central Mexico, the country’s health ministry says results of its studies of lettuce and water samples were negative for cyclospora.
The facility, which produces 5-pound bags of shredded iceberg lettuce sold to Taco Bell, Sysco and other large food distributors, has been temporarily shut down, an industry source says.
The Food and Drug Administration posted that it was confident that shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico is behind illnesses associated with Yum Brands’ Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan and four other states.
Taylor Farms says no Taylor Farms-branded salads or kits are tied to the outbreak after the FDA said its traceback investigation identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico used by Taco Bell locations where people ate before becoming ill.
