New Cyclospora update brings more confusion than clarity

The Cyclospora outbreak has impacted thousands dating back to last month, including 98 confirmed individuals in Texas, per USA Today. As the outbreak continues, a new controversy ensued this week. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) forced a recall of Taylor Farms iceberg-lettuce products in Texas and 14 other states last week, determining the products contained Cyclospora. Taylor Farms then published a statement Sunday in which they said the FDA "apologized" for their error, which was declared a false positive. The FDA then refuted that statement Sunday. 

"To clarify, this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA's ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms," the FDA posted on social media. "FDA's traceback investigation and outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico.

"FDA will continue to work with federal and state partners to investigate this multistate outbreak and ensure products implicated in this outbreak have been removed from the market."

The war of words might continue between Taylor Farms and the FDA. So, what's fact and what's fiction about the latest in the Cyclospora controversy? Here's what you need to know:

Should I eat Taylor Farms products?

Not if it's shredded lettuce, per the FDA, which encourages citizens to "continue to avoid all products listed in Taylor Farms' voluntary recall." Taylor Farms' voluntary recall began late last week in central Mexico and the U.S. market, pulling shredded iceberg lettuce from grocery shelves in Texas, among 25 other states. 

Which brands use Taylor Farms products?

Taco Bell was the first major company to warn customers about its Taylor Farms products, noting last Friday it removed all affected Taylor Farms lettuce from company stores. But Taco Bell is far from the last fast-food chain associated with Taylor Farms. Chipotle, McDonalds, Subway, KFC, Long John Silver's and Pizza Hut are among the other fast-food brands with reported ties to Taylor Farms, and Taylor Farms products have been found in Aldi, Walmart, Costco, Target and Kroger stores. 

How do I know if my product is from Taylor Farms? 

A Taylor Farms listing of infected foods included codes that will appear on a given lettuce bag related to its supplier. If the code starts with TF or TFRB, it's a product supplied by Taylor Farms.

Sarah McGee, the Democratic nominee for the Texas House of Representatives in House District 132, learned that lesson the hard way. She said Sunday she suffered from Cyclospora, then checked an H-E-B Garden Salad Bag in her fridge. McGee's fears were then confirmed, with TF leading the code on the bag. 

What will happen if I get Cyclospora?

The results will be unpleasant, though not lethal.

Cyclospora symptoms include stomach cramping, nausea, extreme fatigue, and, worst of all, watery and explosive diarrhea. There are nearly 7,000 reported Cyclospora cases nationwide as of Tuesday, though the parasite has yet to cause any deaths. 141 people have reportedly been hospitalized due to Cyclospora as of July 14, per the Centers for Disease Control. 

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