US officials trace explosive diarrhoea outbreak to contaminated lettuce

A sample of iceberg lettuce from supplier Taylor Farms has tested positive for the parasite behind an outbreak of explosive diarrhoea that has sickened thousands of people across the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gw9n1kx9do).

At least 94 people have been hospitalised with cyclosporiasis infections, though no deaths have been reported, according to the FDA. The infections were first detected on 13 May, and symptoms of the foodborne illness — including watery diarrhoea lasting days, sudden weight loss and loss of appetite — can take up to two weeks to appear (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gw9n1kx9do).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said thousands have been infected with Cyclospora linked to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and sold at Taco Bell locations in at least five states — Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia — and advised against eating shredded iceberg lettuce served at those restaurants (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gw9n1kx9do).

Taylor Farms announced on Friday it was voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce from the US market sourced from central Mexico, and issued a list of affected products. The action also covers Marketside-branded iceberg lettuce sold at Walmart locations in 15 states, according to the FDA (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gw9n1kx9do).

The fast-food chain said it had completed removal of the affected Taylor Farms lettuce from its restaurants. Taylor Farms said it had stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of the central Mexico iceberg lettuce, notified its customers and was continuing to work with the FDA, CDC and state authorities (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gw9n1kx9do).

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