In the wake of a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands across the country, Walmart has joined Taco Bell in removing potentially tainted lettuce from its stores. The retailer has pulled four bagged iceberg lettuce salad products from select locations as a precaution, despite no confirmed illnesses associated with the products. This move comes after Taco Bell removed all lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms from its restaurants, following an investigation by the CDC that linked the outbreak to contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. The CDC reported that Taco Bell customers had gotten sick after consuming the tainted lettuce, and thousands have been sickened by cyclosporiasis nationwide, with Michigan reporting over 5,000 cases and 102 hospitalizations as of July 16. Taylor Farms de Mexico, a subsidiary of the Salinas, California-headquartered company, has listed 27 states that received central Mexico-sourced iceberg lettuce, shredded lettuce, salad mixes, and other products. The company has notified customers and is removing the implicated products, as well as suspending processing and distribution of iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico. The recall notices, however, are not sufficient, according to food safety lawyer Bill Marler, who argues that more information is needed to determine which other retailers and food service companies may have received the tainted lettuce. This is not the first time Taylor Farms has been linked to foodborne outbreaks; two years ago, the company was connected to an E.coli outbreak involving onions served at McDonald's, leading to a recall and one death. The lettuce concerns may be slowing traffic in some restaurants, with Taco Bell and other lettuce-heavy chains experiencing declines in foot traffic. While the FDA traceback indicates a specific independent farm as the potential source of the outbreak, the recall notices do not detail what other retailers and food service companies may have received the tainted lettuce. This raises a deeper question about the transparency and accountability of the food supply chain, and the need for better communication and coordination between suppliers, retailers, and consumers.
