Week in Review: Answers in the Cyclospora outbreak investigation 

The Food and Drug Administration concluded its outbreak investigation of Cyclospora infections linked to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico.

FDA declared the outbreak over on September 11.

Of the samples collected during the onsite inspections in Mexico, two samples tested positive for Cyclospora. One positive sample was from a tank that held outgoing wastewater from the Taylor Farms de Mexico processing facility.  

The second positive sample was collected from a drainage ditch of an iceberg lettuce grower identified in the FDA’s traceback investigation. 

FDA said there is not enough evidence to conclusively determine how contamination occurred in this outbreak, but the positive samples show that Cyclospora was present in the environment where lettuce was grown and processed. 

In a statement, Taylor Farms said its facility in central Mexico remains closed as it implements enhanced safety protocols from the field to the facility. 

Taylor Farms also said the independent grower where a positive sample was found is no longer part of its supplier program. 

The Cyclospora outbreak this summer caused more than 12,000 reported illnesses in 21 states and two deaths. 

FDA Action Plan 

In mid-September, the International Fresh Produce Association called for better cooperation and communication on food safety in a letter to Kyle Diamantas, acting Commissioner of FDA.

This week, FDA released ten planned activities to mitigate and prevent future Cyclospora outbreaks starting immediately.

Improving outreach and public engagement are among the items. 

Consumer confidence in lettuce and even the whole fresh produce department was shaken, and it will take time to regain that trust.

The produce industry takes food safety seriously and invests millions of dollars and hours of work on it every year. 

It will not be easy to get the word out about its changes and improvements to food safety through the same communication channels that are so quick to sensationalize and overblow a crisis. 

Of course, the industry must try and keep the effort up. 

American consumers have come back after previous food safety issues and will again. And the modern news cycle is so fast now that the forgiveness timeline has also compressed. 

The regaining of consumer trust will happen day by day as they enjoy fresh leafy greens without incident.