Taylor Farms de Mexico, the producer of mixed salad linked to Cyclospora outbreaks at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants in Iowa and Nebraska, resumed operations yesterday after receiving an all-clear from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company, which had suspended operations August 9 during the agency's investigation, has agreed to implement a comprehensive Cyclospora sampling program for leafy green and other products from their farms and processing facility in Mexico. The program will also include sampling water and continued monitoring of the sanitary conditions at the facilities. The FDA has inspected Taylor Farms de Mexico’s processing facility and five farms identified through the traceback investigation and found that conditions and practices were in … [Read more...]
CDC Cyclospora Expert Talks Outbreak Investigation
Two months ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was notified of two non-travel related cases of Cyclospora infection in Iowa. Since that time, an outbreak has mushroomed to include more than 600 cases in 22 states and spawned and investigation that includes dozens of state, local and federal health officials. One of them is Dr. Barabra Herwaldt, a medical epidemiologist in the parasitic disease branch at the CDC and the agency’s resident expert on Cyclospora. She discussed the challenges of the investigation in an interview with Food Poisoning Bulletin. One of the key ways that this investigation differs from other high-profile food poisoning outbreaks is that genetic testing technology is available for infections caused by bacteria such as E.coli, Salmonella, … [Read more...]
Texas Has Most Cyclospora Cases, Does It Hold Key to Outbreak?
With more than 200 cases, Texas is the state hardest hit by the Cyclospora outbreak. Does it hold the key to outbreak investigation? The investigation of the Cyclospora outbreak which has now sickened at least 514 people in 17 states has been slow going. Outside of last week's announcement that pre-packaged salad from Taylor Farms in Mexico served at Red Lobster and Olive Garden restaurants was the source of illness for cases in those states, there haven't been many breakthroughs. For example, we still don't know where else that salad mix may have been distributed or what other other food sources may be involved. No recalls have been issued in association with the outbreak. Federal health officials have joined a team of investigators in Texas, which now has almost as many cases as … [Read more...]
Cyclospora In 11 States Sickens 302, 18 are Hospitalized
Cyclospora, a rare parasite, has sickened at least 301 people in 11 states hospitalizing 18 of them, according to the latest information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments. Three new states, Minnesota, Ohio and New Jersey, have been added since yesterday. Case counts by state are higher in some instances than those on the map in the link above. They are as follows: Iowa (138), Texas (80), Nebraska (70), Wisconsin (7), Georgia (2), Connecticut (1), Illinois (1), Kansas (1), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), Ohio (1). The cases in Illinois and Kansas may have been acquired out of state. "Additional cases are currently under investigation and will be included on this page as states confirm them," the CDC update states. Those states may … [Read more...]
