The U.S. Food and Drug Administration just announced that lettuce from a key supplier linked to the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak has not tested positive for the parasite, reversing an earlier finding by the agency. The FDA previously identified contamination in a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, but after retesting, said the finding was inaccurate.
“Due to the complexity in detection of Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive,” the agency said.
Taylor Farms, meanwhile, has voluntarily recalled all iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico and will no longer source from the region for the remainder of the growing season. The recalled items included private-label shredded lettuce and iceberg salad packs sold at Walmart, but no Taylor Farms-branded products were involved, according to the company.
Classroom discussion questions:
- Supplement 6 in your Heizer/Render/Munson text is on the topic of Statistical Process Control. What tools could be used to manage this issue?
- What other famous outbreaks have been caused by lettuce?