As the number of cyclosporiasis cases in the U.S. rises, questions are mounting over the ties between Taylor Farms — the produce supplier linked to the outbreak — and the Trump administration. Nine states have reported cyclosporiasis cases so far, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noting more than 4,100 laboratory-confirmed cases.
Political ties: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has demanded answers from Taylor Farms CEO Bruce Taylor on whether the company used its
White House connections to interfere with the Food and Drug Administration's investigation into the contaminated food supply. "Taylor Farms donated millions to President Trump, met privately with the White House the night the FDA identified their lettuce as the source of this outbreak, and then reportedly tried to distance themselves from this outbreak," Garcia claimed. "Oversight Democrats are investigating Taylor Farms' role in the national cyclosporiasis outbreak and any further threat to Americans’ health and safety."
Taylor Farms complained to White House and FDA officials about the U.S. government's inspection process earlier this month, a source familiar with the meeting told
Reuters. The company has not responded to this claim. "Any notion that the White House or Trump administration would ever compromise on the health and safety of the American people is absolutely false," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said. An FDA probe linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell (
YUM) restaurants sourced from Taylor Farms' operations in central Mexico. But the FDA has
not confirmed any positive product sample tests for cyclospora and health officials are reportedly searching for other potential sources.
Yum! Brands Q2 Preview: All Eyes On The Taco OutlookMulti-state outbreak: The CDC last week said it received reports of 4,173 lab-confirmed cyclosporiasis cases since May 1 and is aware of over 7,400 additional cases that are not yet confirmed. The outbreak has impacted nine states, led by Michigan with 9,253 reported cases as of Monday. Ohio has more than 2,500 cases confirmed and Kentucky received 468 reports of cases, of which 177 have been confirmed. Taylor Farms said while the FDA has yet to confirm positive results for product testing for cyclospora, the company
still went ahead with recalling all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico out of an abundance of caution. The supplier also suspended iceberg lettuce sourcing and production from the area.
