Photo Credit: Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.)
(OPGOV GLOBAL) – Yet another cyclosporiasis outbreak is going around, and this time, it’s up to nine states, with no source detected alongside the original outbreak beginning in May of this year, which is thought to have originated from Taylor Farms de Mexico.
That’s right, the second outbreak of cyclosporiasis, caused by the intestinal parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, is also not under control as health agencies work together to trace the source of both outbreaks. The Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) has stated that Taylor Farms de Mexico is still under investigation, despite what it called a “false positive” earlier this month.
This second round of cyclosporiasis outbreaks has been tracked by the CDC, who states, "Illnesses have now been reported from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and West Virginia."
The spread of the parasite is often linked to contaminated water sources or fecal matter otherwise contaminating farms where crops are grown, especially berries, leafy greens, and herbs, which are difficult to clean. Onset of the associated illness can take up to two weeks after initial infection, and symptoms can include severe diarrhea and dehydration, nausea, and loss of appetite, among others.
Photo Credit: Taylor Fresh Foods
Taylor Farms stated in a press release that the FDA had apologized to the company for its potential damage to the produce giant’s reputation, despite several known outbreaks of food-borne pathogens in the past that point to negligence in food safety standards within the company.
Recalled product was only limited to iceberg lettuce “grown and processed in Central Mexico,” though complaints online point to other produce, including fresh berries and herbs people ingested while staying away from lettuce.
The wording of that press release indicates that Taylor Farms is exasperated by the situation, including the phrase, “To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for Cyclospora.”
Despite this statement, the F.D.A.’s website still clearly instructs the public not to eat any produce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, as the investigation is still ongoing at that site.
Currently, this verdict on Taylor Farms de Mexico still stands, according to the same F.D.A. web page:
“On July 17, Taylor Farms initiated a recall, which includes Marketside-brand product available at Walmart described as “Iceberg Salad 12-oz or 24-oz” and “Shredded Lettuce 8-oz or 16-oz” with Best if Used By dates of 7/18/2026 to 8/3/2026 and July 18 to Aug 3, 2026, respectively. A complete list of other recalled products distributed to food service customers is included in the recall notice. More information will be provided as it becomes available.”
Before this second outbreak was detected, the initial outbreak managed to reach well over 11,000 cases, though lab-confirmed cases sit around 4,100 as it can take well over a week to confirm each case – not to mention the shortage of testing supplies now putting a strain on testing.
The public is understandably exhausted by the ongoing outbreaks, often taking to social media to post rants, humorous videos, and their own personal experiences with being sick. Many state they have stopped eating fresh produce altogether for fear they will catch the parasite and fall ill, which would have detrimental effects on those who already have underlying conditions.
Photo Credit: Reddit / r/SIBO
One social media user under the name prism.pixie went viral on the platform Instagram for blowing the whistle on the practices her late father, a former Head of Sanitation for Taylor Farms told her about.
Her allegations include Taylor Farms not providing bathrooms or sanitary facilities for employees, leaving many to “go” around or near produce – which, in turn, puts it at risk for fecally-transmitted pathogens, such as Cyclospora.
Photo Credit: Instagram / prism.pixie
Others still are wary of the relationship between Taylor Fresh Foods and MAGA, Inc in regards to the current outbreaks and the recent cuts in pathogen detection by the F.D.A.
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To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at tracy.t@lead4earth.org.
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