New Developments In Cyclospora, Salmonella Outbreaks: What To Know In Illinois

Restaurants, schools, hospitals and other institutions across Illinois that rely on Sysco could see changes in where their iceberg lettuce comes from after the nation’s largest food distributor stopped buying the product from Mexico.

The move comes as health officials investigate a separate salmonella outbreak potentially linked to jalapeños distributed to Chipotle and other food-service retailers in multiple states.

Sysco CEO Kevin Hourican told Reuters Tuesday that the company is no longer buying iceberg lettuce from Mexico or from Taylor Farms, whose shredded lettuce has been linked to a widening cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands of people and been associated with two deaths in Michigan.

“We’re not buying iceberg lettuce from them, and we’re not buying it from Mexico,” Hourican said.

Sysco’s decision comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 10,468 laboratory-confirmed, domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1. The illnesses have resulted in 517 hospitalizations and two deaths and have been reported in 47 states.

The CDC is also reviewing more than 12,255 additional cases that have not been laboratory-confirmed or still require further investigation, including many reported by Michigan. State totals may be higher because some include both probable and confirmed cases.

Cyclosporiasis cases occur every year, but illnesses associated with the lettuce outbreak have been concentrated in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The Illinois Department Public Health said that there are 995 confirmed and probable cyclosporiasis cases in the state as of Tuesday. There are also 58 hospitalizations due to cyclospora. No deaths have been reported.

Cyclosporiasis symptoms typically begin about a week after infection and most commonly include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea and fatigue. Without treatment, symptoms may last a month or longer and can disappear before returning.

The two deaths were reported in Michigan but have not been specifically linked to the Taylor Farms lettuce at the center of the narrower federal investigation. State health officials said both people had significant underlying health conditions that may have been affected by cyclosporiasis and dehydration.

Sysco halted sales and distribution of Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from Mexico in mid-July and conducted a voluntary recall before Taylor Farms issued its official recall, Hourican told Reuters. The distributor is now obtaining lettuce from other countries and growing regions.

The decision could affect restaurants, hospitals, schools, stadiums and other institutions that obtain food through Sysco. Hourican said the company has continued meeting customers’ lettuce needs, though replacing the volume supplied by Taylor Farms has been a challenge.

Chipotle Removes Jalapeños

Separately, health officials are investigating jalapeños served at Chipotle restaurants as a possible source of a salmonella outbreak.

Chipotle said the jalapeños were distributed to several food-service retailers in multiple states. The company removed them from select restaurants and replaced them with jalapeños from different growers after identifying the ingredient as a possible link among the illnesses.

It was not immediately clear whether any Chipotle restaurants or other food-service businesses in Illinois received jalapeños from the lot under investigation.

Minnesota health officials said they were investigating at least 110 salmonella cases. Of 84 people interviewed, 75 said they had eaten at Chipotle between June 14 and July 14. Others reported eating at a variety of other Mexican-style restaurants.

The Food and Drug Administration began tracing multiple ingredients July 22 after state officials and the CDC identified a cluster of salmonella illnesses. The agency has not confirmed the source of the outbreak and said it would release more information if investigators identify an actionable public-health risk.

Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches and loss of appetite. Symptoms typically begin six hours to six days after exposure and last four to seven days, according to the CDC.

Related

• How To Wash Lettuce, Berries And Herbs To Reduce Cyclospora Risk
• Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Grows: How To Order Fast Food Safely
• This State Investigates More Than 100 Salmonella Cases Tied To Chipolte, Other Restaurants