RFK Jr. Says 1,644-Case Cyclospora Outbreak Is Under Control as Recall Proceeds
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 21
RFK Jr. Says 1,644-Case Cyclospora Outbreak Is Under Control as Recall Proceeds
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 21
Summary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the multistate cyclospora outbreak is under control after investigators identified a source and companies involved implemented a recall.
Taylor Farms recalled lettuce products tied to the outbreak, but the FDA said the exact contamination source is still under investigation and no tested samples had been confirmed positive as of July 19.
Kennedy called criticism of the federal response invalid, saying cuts to the FoodNet surveillance program removed only redundant monitoring and that forensic work and state surveillance continue.
The defense comes after last year's FoodNet rollback stopped required monitoring of eight of 10 pathogens, including cyclospora, raising concerns that source tracking and case detection could be weakened.