Other10 August, 20262 min read
Taylor Farms Recalls Jalapeños After FDA Links Lettuce to Nationwide Cyclospora Outbreak
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Taylor Farms recalls more than a dozen jalapeño–containing products nationwide due to salmonella. FDA links cyclospora-tainted lettuce from Taylor Farms to a nationwide outbreak.
Two outbreaks, one supplier
Taylor Farms is facing scrutiny after public health officials identified the company’s lettuce as the source of a nationwide cyclospora outbreak, and the company later recalled jalapeño products due to salmonella risks. CBS News reported that Taylor Farms recalled several suspected salmonella-contaminated jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors, and it quoted Jennifer McEntire saying, "The issue with jalapeños is very, very different."
“‘The issue with jalapeños is very, very different.”
The Independent said the FDA report described a massive produce recall involving nearly 240,000 cases of lettuce and linked it to "nearly 240,000 cases of lettuce." ABC News said the salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños has made 345 people sick in 27 states, while the FDA released a list of recalled products including diced jalapenos and rice and bean burritos from Hannaford and spicy pimento cheese dip from Kroger.
Where the lettuce went
Ars Technica reported that the FDA’s Enforcement Report revealed where contaminated lettuce was sold, saying Taylor Farms recalled 236,192 cases of lettuce due to potential Cyclospora contamination.
Ars Technica said only 5,900 of those cases, "just shy of 2.5 percent," were sold to Yum, the parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC.
The Independent said Walmart’s Marketside brand received the largest share of the recalled produce with 109,476 cases, and it said major fast-food chains like Subway, Yum! Brands (Taco Bell) and Jack in the Box removed thousands of cases.
USA Today added that the largest cluster of cyclosporiasis cases, centered in Michigan, was traced by the Food and Drug Administration to recalled iceberg lettuce grown by Taylor Farms, and it said cases have been reported in 47 states.
Recalls, alerts, and access
ABC News said Taylor Farms is pulling more than a dozen jalapeño products sold at grocery stores across the United States, and it listed recalled items sold under brand names including Taylor Farms, Trader Joe’s, Private Selection and Freshness Guaranteed. PBS reported that Taylor Fresh Foods, the parent company of Taylor Farms, said it was voluntarily recalling products including jalapeños after learning that Coast Citrus Distributors was voluntarily recalling fresh jalapeños due to a potential salmonella contamination.
“The recall list includes dips, salsas, guacamole and more.”
ABC News said the recalled products were distributed across 26 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Salinas Californian said the company’s jalapeño recall came after more than 300 people in 27 states were sickened by salmonella in an outbreak linked to jalapeño peppers, and it said the CDC believed the outbreak originated from jalapeños grown in Sinaloa, Mexico.