FDA expands Cyclospora outbreak to nine states as lettuce recall continues
The FDA reports 1,947 illnesses and at least 98 hospitalizations as officials investigate recalled iceberg lettuce linked to a nine-state Cyclospora outbreak.
The FDA said Friday, July 24, that a Cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce now includes nine states, with 1,947 reported illnesses, at least 98 hospitalizations and no reported deaths.
The investigation remains active. Federal officials said the case count may continue to rise because it can take up to six weeks for health authorities to determine whether a reported illness is part of the outbreak.
What changed on July 24
Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania were added to five states previously identified: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
The FDA said the investigation involves people who reported exposure to Taco Bell. That does not mean every Taco Bell customer was exposed or infected, and the reported exposure alone does not establish that every illness was caused by recalled lettuce.
Which lettuce products are involved
Federal officials are investigating shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and associated with Taylor Fresh Foods. Recalled products moved through food-service channels in 28 states and included shredded, chopped and blended lettuce products.
Select Walmart stores also sold recalled Marketside-brand products, including iceberg salad and shredded lettuce. The FDA recall notice lists the affected product descriptions and best-if-used-by dates.
The recall does not apply to all lettuce sold at Walmart, all Taco Bell food or every product served at every restaurant. Consumers should compare packages, product descriptions and dates with the current FDA recall notice before deciding whether an item is affected.
What consumers should do
Do not eat, serve or sell recalled lettuce. The FDA says consumers, restaurants and retailers should discard affected products or follow the recall instructions for a refund. Surfaces and containers that came into contact with recalled lettuce should be cleaned and sanitized according to the agency’s guidance.
Consumers should check refrigerators, freezers and food-service receipts for recalled Taylor Fresh Foods lettuce or affected Marketside products. The FDA outbreak advisory and recall notice provide the current product details.
Symptoms and timing
Cyclospora commonly causes frequent, watery diarrhea. Other possible symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache and fever can also occur, while some infected people may have no symptoms.
People with possible symptoms or concerns about a recent exposure should contact a health professional. The FDA notes that illness can last for weeks and may return after seeming to improve. Symptoms may not appear immediately after exposure, which is one reason recent food history can matter when speaking with a clinician.
What remains unknown
Officials have not established that every illness involving reported Taco Bell exposure came from recalled lettuce, and the investigation has not shown that every iceberg lettuce product or distribution channel is affected.
The FDA’s traceback work and outbreak data continue to point toward recalled shredded iceberg lettuce associated with Taylor Fresh Foods, but the investigation and case review remain underway. Reported totals may change as officials classify additional illnesses.
Consumers should rely on the current FDA outbreak advisory, recall notice and Cyclospora health guidance rather than assuming that a restaurant, retailer or package is affected solely because it sold or served lettuce.
Sources
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