The Lettuce Outbreak Just Took A Deadly Turn

The nationwide diarrhea outbreak caused by the Cyclospora parasite turned deadly after Michigan health officials reported two deaths.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said “both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration.” The department declined to release additional information. 

“Cyclosporiasis is generally not a life-threatening illness,” the department said. “Death resulting from cyclosporiasis is uncommon in the United States.”

The parasite has spread across the country this summer through contaminated produce, including lettuce, basil, cilantro, parsley, raspberries, blackberries, and snow peas. Symptoms typically begin one to two weeks after infection and include diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, extreme tiredness, low-grade fever, stomach cramps, and vomiting. 

Cases have been reported in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Michigan has been one of the hardest-hit states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed nearly 7,000 laboratory cases and is tracking more than 11,500 additional cases, with the largest concentrations reported in Michigan and Ohio. 

Taylor Farms’ iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico was initially identified as a potential source of the outbreak. On July 17, the company voluntarily recalled the affected lettuce.

“Anything currently on shelves is not the affected product,” Taylor Farms said.

The Food and Drug Administration later said one positive test result was a false positive, but the agency continues investigating because that finding applied to only one shipment. 

“FDA’s traceback investigation and outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico,” the agency said. “The FDA will continue to work with federal and state partners to investigate this multistate outbreak and ensure products implicated in this outbreak have been removed from the market.”

Taylor Farms supplies produce to numerous grocery chains and restaurant brands nationwide, including Taco Bell, Chipotle, McDonald’s, KFC, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut, Walmart, Target, Safeway, Whole Foods, Meijer, Vons, Food4Less, Sprouts, Kroger, and Walmart.