The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has reported over 80 cases of a parasite causing diarrhea, which has affected thousands nationwide. Interestingly, the supplier associated with this outbreak is the same firm linked to a series of E. coli cases in St. Louis earlier this year.
In the past couple of weeks, there’s been a noticeable rise in cyclospora infections in Missouri, though the count remains lower compared to some other states, as shared by Nathan Koffarnus, an assistant bureau chief for the agency’s communicable disease bureau, in a recent phone briefing.
Federal authorities have connected the cyclospora infections to lettuce served at Taco Bell locations across several states, including Indiana and Ohio. A report from the Associated Press mentioned that a company named Taylor Farms was the supplier for this lettuce, but St. Louis Public Radio hasn’t verified that information yet.
On Friday, Taylor Farms announced it would be removing all lettuce sourced from Central Mexico from distribution in the U.S. market. The company stated that while the FDA has traced the outbreak to a specific farm contributing less than 1% of the iceberg lettuce supply in the country, all lettuce from that region is being pulled indefinitely.
Lawsuits filed in both federal and local courts allege that Taylor Farms was responsible for the produce linked to an E. coli outbreak in St. Louis that affected 115 participants at a catered school event last year. The company has denied these claims.
Bill Marler, an attorney for some of the St. Louis plaintiffs, remarked on the unusual nature of health officials not naming the source of the outbreak. “They mention one processor, but don’t specify who it is—that’s quite uncommon,” he noted, expressing uncertainty about the reasoning behind this lack of clarity.
Such incidents, according to Marler, shouldn’t occur, especially considering that Taylor Farms is a significant supplier alleged to have been implicated in other national foodborne illness outbreaks. “They’re a major player, and these kinds of problems often arise,” he added.
Cyclospora can lead to symptoms like watery diarrhea, nausea, and dehydration, though it rarely causes fever or vomiting. Fortunately, most individuals recover without the need for antibiotics.
Koffarnus stated that it’s still unclear whether the cases in Missouri are associated with the outbreaks occurring in other states. “Are there cases here that haven’t spread outside Missouri? Do they have common links with those in Michigan? Right now, it remains uncertain,” he concluded.
So far, Taylor Farms has not responded to requests for comments from St. Louis Public Radio.
