There is currently no evidence to suggest lettuce sourced from Mexico caused a cyclosporiasis outbreak in the U.S., despite a recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report; Mexico’s Health Minister David Kershenobich stated on Tuesday.
The minister’s comments follow a Monday report from the FDA indicating that traceback data pointed to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico.
The parasitic infection, which causes severe diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, has been linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants, which is owned by Yum! Brands, across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported approximately 100 hospitalizations related to the outbreak. There are now more than 10,000 cases of cyclosporiasis across more than 40 states.
“So far, no evidence has been found to indicate that it originated there,” Kershenobich said during a government press conference, referring to the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, where authorities are investigating.
He added, “However, we are taking all precautions in case that were the case.”
The FDA’s investigation into the outbreak’s source has been marked by conflicting information.
On Saturday, the agency announced a sample of Mexican lettuce from supplier Taylor Farms had tested positive for the parasite, only to retract the finding on Sunday, declaring it a false positive after a data re-review.
However, the agency then stated on Monday that its supply chain investigation continues to point to the company’s Mexican facilities as the parasite’s source.
In response, Mexico’s sanitary regulator, Cofepris, and agricultural safety body, Senasica, issued a joint statement on Friday, confirming an interagency technical group is conducting “strictly preventive” inspections and traceability analyses to mitigate health risks.
Taylor Farms’ growing and processing facilities in Mexico were previously identified as the source of a major U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak in 2013, which sickened over 600 people in 25 states and was traced to salad mix from Taylor Farms de Mexico in Guanajuato, according to the CDC.
