FDA: Infected Lettuce at U.S. Restaurants Traced to Mexico : The Two-Way : NPR
The FDA said Saturday it would step up its surveillance of “green leafy products” from Mexico, after a rare parasite linked to a lettuce supplier there has caused illness in more than 400 people in 16 U.S. states.
The parasite, known as cyclosporiasis, was first identified at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants in Iowa and Nebraska and has since been discovered in Texas and numerous other states.
In a statement on Saturday, the Food and Drug Administration said its traceback investigation “confirmed that the salad mix identified by Iowa and Nebraska as being linked to the outbreak of cyclosporiasis in those states was supplied to restaurants in those states by Taylor Farms de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., a processor of foodservice salads,” adding that the restaurants include Olive Garden and Red Lobster, both of which are owned by Darden Restaurants.
“As a result of the current investigation FDA is increasing its surveillance efforts on green leafy products exported to the U.S. from Mexico,” the statement said.
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