SerpApi.Org
WASHINGTON— HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said Tuesday that the department has the outbreak of explosive diarrhea parasite cyclosporiasis is “under control” — as officials bashed Taylor Farms for earlier claiming that the FDA had “apologized” to the company.
“We have done extensive forensics, epidemiological forensics and we have identified the source of the outbreak,” Kennedy said. “We, and the companies that are involved, have implemented a recall.”
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Last week, Taylor Farms’ Mexican subsidiary recalled several lettuce products after the Food and Drug Administration linked it to the parasite, but later revealed that a lab test on the product provided a false positive.
However, officials said Monday that other tracking methods confirmed that the company’s lettuce was the source of the outbreak.
A White House official told The Post that they Taylor Farms only succeeded in angering regulators with a soical media post Sunday claiming the the FDA had offered a “mea culpa.”
Taylor Farms’ post was later taken down.
“They were never going to get any special favors or a pass here when it’s people’s health and safety that’s on the line, but intentionally distorting government statements — or fabricating made-up apologies by the FDA — is actively pissing us off,” the official said.
The FDA urges people not to eat recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms.
“A smart company would act in good faith and work with the government to restore people’s trust and confidence in our food,” the official said.
When Kennedy was asked about criticisms of the government’s response to the outbreak, he said they are “invalid.”
“We did cuts in the FoodNet program, but they were for redundant surveillance, and all the states will tell you that we’re still doing forensics,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy added that they’re still continuing surveillance “in all the states.”
