Taylor Farms, a produce supplier, is recalling iceberg lettuce shipped to 27 US states because of potential contamination with cyclospora, a parasite that causes diarrhea. The company has suspended distribution of iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico to the United States and is no longer receiving products from the implicated lot.

Affected States

The recall includes Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Consumers who have purchased the recalled iceberg lettuce should discard it immediately and not consume it.

The recall notice includes brand abbreviations and some product descriptions, including use-by dates, but does not mention specific retailers or product names. No Taylor Farms-branded salads or kits are associated with the outbreak, and no Taylor Farms-branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce.

Investigations Underway

Federal health officials have linked a large cyclospora outbreak in the Midwest to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and served at some Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Taco Bell has removed the lettuce from its restaurants and its nationwide supply chain.

The FDA said more states may be added to the list as more information becomes available. Restaurant food distributor Sysco has also taken action on Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from Mexico, proactively removing all Taylor Farms processed iceberg lettuce products from distribution and instructing customers to destroy them.

Cyclosporiasis can cause symptoms that include watery diarrhea, cramping, and bloating for weeks, which can lead to dehydration. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported nearly 7,000 confirmed or under investigation cases of cyclosporiasis in 34 states since May 1.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.