Sarah Morland
| ReutersShow Caption
MEXICO CITY - Mexico's health ministry said on Thursday that results of its studies of lettuce and water samples from U.S. supplier Taylor Farms were negative for cyclospora, following a health inspection and the company's plant in central Mexico earlier this week."The analysis using standard molecular methods via real-time PCR ... was negative for Cyclospora cayetanensis in all 10 samples of raw materials and finished products," the ministry said in a statement.U.S. health authorities have linked an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, which causes severe diarrhea, to lettuce served at restaurants in some states. The CDC, FDA, with state and local health officials, linked iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in five states – Indiana, Kentucky Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.U.S. officials investigating second, smaller outbreakThe Food and Drug Administration said it is investigating a new cyclospora outbreak that has sickened at least 72 people, adding to a growing nationwide surge of infections caused by the foodborne parasite. The FDA said it has not yet identified the source and has launched a traceback investigation.The newly reported outbreak is separate from a much larger multistate outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. That outbreak has already sickened more than 1,640 people, while overall cyclosporiasis cases have surpassed 4,100 nationwide since May, according to federal health officials.All but four states — Hawaii, Louisiana, New Hampshire and North Dakota — had reported cyclosporiasis cases as of last week, according to USA TODAY's reporting.Contributing Mike Snider, USA TODAY
