Key facts
- Mexico's Health Minister stated there is no evidence that lettuce sourced from Mexico caused a cyclosporiasis outbreak in the U.S.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's traceback data indicated shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico as a potential source.
- The outbreak has been linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants, resulting in approximately 100 hospitalizations.
- Mexican authorities are conducting "strictly preventive" inspections and traceability analyses.
- The FDA's investigation has encountered conflicting information, including a false positive test result for the parasite on Mexican lettuce.
Mexico's Health Minister, David Kershenobich, stated on Tuesday that there is currently no evidence to suggest that lettuce from Mexico caused a cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States. This statement follows a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report indicating that traceback data pointed to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico.
The outbreak, characterized by severe diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, has been associated with lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants across several U.S. states, leading to approximately 100 hospitalizations according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Kershenobich emphasized during a press conference that "So far, no evidence has been found to indicate that it originated there," referring to Guanajuato, a state in central Mexico where authorities are investigating. He added that precautions are being taken in case the origin is confirmed to be there.
The FDA's investigation has been complicated by conflicting information. Initially, the agency reported a positive test for the parasite on Mexican lettuce from Taylor Farms, but later announced it was a false positive. Despite this, the FDA stated on Monday that its supply chain investigation continues to point to the company's Mexican facilities as the source.
Mexico's sanitary regulator, Cofepris, and agricultural safety body, Senasica, announced on Friday that an interagency technical group is conducting "strictly preventive" inspections and traceability analyses. Taylor Farms' facilities in Mexico were previously linked to a major cyclosporiasis outbreak in 2013 that affected over 600 people.