Cyclospora Cases Prompt Lettuce Recall

Taco Bell has removed lettuce supplied by one of its vendors from its restaurants indefinitely after it was linked to a Cyclospora outbreak, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said.

The FDA said the infections, first identified on May 13, have resulted in hospitalizations. The restaurant chain confirmed the affected lettuce will be replaced as a precaution while the investigation continues.

“While no official advisory has been issued, we believe public health is a shared responsibility among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities,” Taco Bell said in a statement.

The company did not specify which states are affected by the menu change. However, the majority of reported infections have occurred in Michigan, where more than 3,300 cases have been recorded.

Steven Manderach, executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, said identifying the source of the contamination is extremely difficult.

“This isn’t like detecting a needle in a haystack. It’s like detecting a microscopic portion of a needle in a haystack,” Manderach said.

source : BBC