Sysco Halts Mexican Lettuce Purchases Amid Record Cyclospora Outbreak
Over 10,000 confirmed cases and two deaths linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce from central Mexico spark widespread recalls and economic impact.
Callum Smith
America's largest food distributor, Sysco, has ceased purchasing iceberg lettuce from Mexico.
Contaminated iceberg lettuce, sourced from Taylor Farms in central Mexico, prompted a widespread recall. Taylor Farms voluntarily pulled lettuce distributed to restaurants in 27 states and grocery stores across 15 states.
The FDA upheld Taylor Farms' recall, even after a subsequent cyclospora test returned a 'false positive' result. As of July 24, the specific iceberg lettuce outbreak has been linked to at least 1,947 confirmed cases.
CDC officials now believe the true toll could exceed 22,000, with 12,255 additional reports still awaiting laboratory confirmation and investigation. Cases have surfaced in 45 states since May, adding Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina to the growing list of affected regions.
Yum Brands reported a 2 percent decline in sales for its current fiscal quarter, a drop attributed to the cyclospora outbreak. Symptoms of cyclospora infection include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting; the disease typically resolves within two weeks and is rarely fatal.
The parasite infects the bowels and spreads through feces. Treatment consists of the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Experts claim people could become infected by touching surfaces handled by a sick individual who did not wash their hands after using the toilet.