North Carolina Says Cyclospora Cases Aren't Tied to Taco Bell Lettuce as 5-State Link Holds
Updated
Updated · WRAL News · Jul 17
North Carolina Says Cyclospora Cases Aren't Tied to Taco Bell Lettuce as 5-State Link Holds
3 articles · Updated · WRAL News · Jul 17
Summary
North Carolina health officials said Friday the state's Cyclospora cases have not been tied to the Taco Bell shredded lettuce outbreak identified by the CDC and FDA.
Five states — Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia — are the only ones officially linked to Taco Bell lettuce, while North Carolina investigators most often heard reports of parsley, cilantro and lettuce.
Cyclospora is especially hard to trace because symptoms can appear 2 to 14 days after exposure, diagnosis takes time and investigators must reconstruct detailed food histories from patients whose memories may have faded.
Taylor Farms, a Taco Bell lettuce supplier, said it would remove and replace its lettuce, while food microbiologist Don Schaffner said produce now on the market has not been linked to the outbreak.