Salad mix from Mexico identified as source of cyclospora outbreak

An FDA traceback investigation has identified the source of a salad mix identified by Iowa and Nebraska health officials as being one source of a cyclospora outbreak.

The mixes came from Taylor Farms de Mexico, which supplies the foodservice salads market. The restaurants involved in Iowa and Nebraska are Red Lobster and Olive Garden.

Taylor Farms de Mexico has been cooperating with all FDA requests during the investigation. The FDA and the firm will be conducting an environmental assessment of the firm's processing facility in Mexico, to try to learn the probable cause of the outbreak and identify preventive controls to put in place to try and prevent a recurrence. The most recent inspection, in 2011, of the processing facility of Taylor Farms de Mexico conducted by FDA found no notable issues.

FDA said it was increasing its surveillance efforts on green leafy products exported to the U.S. from Mexico.

Mexican food regulatory authorities, the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks and the National Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality Service, are also collaborating with FDA in the investigation of this outbreak.


The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services have announced that they believe the contaminated salad is no longer in the food supply in those states.

It is not yet clear whether the cases reported from other states are all part of the same outbreak, according to FDA. The investigation of increased cases of cyclosporiasis in other states continues.