Taylor Farms voluntarily shuts down processing at Mexico facility while probe continues
Taylor Farms voluntarily shuts down processing at Mexico facility while probe continues
Taylor Farms has suspended production of salad mix and leafy greens from its processing facility in Mexico while the Food & Drug Administration investigates the Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened 535 people, the company announced Aug. 12.
Health officials have reported at least 535 cases of Cyclospora infection from 18 states, although federal health authorities are still unsure whether all the cases are tied to the same outbreak.
A traceback investigation fingered Taylor Farms de Mexico as the company that supplied the foodservice salads identified in the cyclosporiasis outbreak in Iowa and Nebraska.
The Salinas, CA-based company officially informed the FDA Aug. 9 that it was voluntarily suspending production at the Taylor Farms de Mexico facility and would not resume production and shipping of leafy greens or salad mix without FDA's approval.
While salad mix is the only product currently implicated in the outbreak, the company's voluntary action shuts down production of Iceberg lettuce, Romaine lettuce, Green Leaf lettuce, red cabbage, green cabbage and carrots, FDA said in an Aug. 12 statement.
"The action of Taylor Farms de Mexico exemplifies the company's cooperation with federal and state officials throughout this ongoing, complicated investigation," the FDA said in a statement.
Taylor Farms publicized its decision in a statement on its website.
"The decision allows Taylor Farms de Mexico to focus more resources on assisting the FDA in their investigation of the June Cyclospora outbreak in Iowa and Nebraska," the company said. "We continue to be very confident in our Mexico operation throughout our own review of our existing, and recently further enhanced, food safety procedures, systems and critical control points."
Production for salad mix and leafy greens has shifted to the domestic crops and processing facilities in California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Tennessee and Texas. Taylor Farms operates 11 U.S. processing plants, along with one in Mexico.
"We expect the suspension of salad products to last several weeks," the company said.
Not all production at the Mexico facility has been halted, however. Production of broccoli will continue in Mexico, the company added.
