US health officials have attributed the current outbreak of intestinal infection in the country to a parasite found in iceberg lettuce sold by the Taco Bell fast-food chain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Friday, July 17.
A federal investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that the contamination causing gastrointestinal problems originated from a Mexican lettuce supplier whose products were used by Taco Bell restaurants in five U.S. states, according to a CDC statement.
Read also A parasite responsible for "explosive diarrhea" is affecting Americans in several states.
More than 1,644 people across five EDifferent states — Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia — have contracted cyclosporiasis, a disease causing, among other things, "explosive diarrhea", according to the same source.
Cyclosporiasis: a rarely fatal, but potentially long-lasting disease
The parasite caused 94 hospitalizations. All of these cases were reported by the CDC is linked to contaminated lettuce sold by Taco Bell, the health agency specifies.
“ The affected ingredient from our supplier is being withdrawn indefinitely from our national supply chain and will be replaced within 24 hours in certain cases. Etats"Taco Bell announced.
The supplier Taylor Farms, which owns farms in EThe United States, Canada and Mexico also announced in a statement " voluntarily remove all lettuce from central Mexico "of trade, as a precautionary measure."
If cyclosporiasis is left untreated, it can last for more than a month and cause dehydration. It is not usually fatal.
Coriander, basil, raspberries… foods already linked to cyclosporia
Other foods have been linked to cyclosporiasis in the past, such as coriander, basil, raspberries, spring onions, and snow peas. To prevent any contamination, Health authorities have recommended washing them or cooking them at over 70°C to kill the parasite.
Michigan (north) has been particularly hard hit this year, authorities in theEstate having reported more than 5,000 cases. The FDA clarified that local data often differs from national figures, because the EThe figures generally include both probable and confirmed cases.
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