Health secretary says cyclospora outbreak linked to lettuce is under control
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said companies tied to the outbreak have recalled lettuce as federal agencies face criticism over their response.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked by federal investigators to shredded iceberg lettuce is “under control.” The outbreak has led to more than 1,644 reported illnesses and 94 hospitalizations, with no deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kennedy made the remarks during a news briefing on health care fraud, saying federal officials had found the origin of the outbreak and that the companies involved had acted on a recall. The Food and Drug Administration has said it suspects shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico supplied by Taylor Farms as the source.
The outbreak has drawn scrutiny of the FDA and CDC, both part of HHS, over how quickly they warned the public and identified the likely source. Critics have also argued that Trump administration staffing and funding cuts weakened the federal response.
Kennedy rejected that criticism Tuesday. He said HHS had not reduced the surveillance program tied to the outbreak and described cuts to the FoodNet program as limited to duplicative monitoring.
Federal agencies point to lettuce supply
The FDA has said the outbreak is linked to iceberg lettuce, including some served at Taco Bell restaurants owned by Yum Brands. Taylor Farms has recalled produce connected to the outbreak, and Taco Bell has removed the lettuce from its restaurants, according to the FDA account cited in the investigation.
The FDA also issued a clarification Monday after its discussion of a false positive cyclospora test in a Taylor Farms lettuce sample caused confusion. The agency said it still considers the company’s iceberg lettuce the suspected source of the outbreak.
The CDC, FDA and state public health officials have been investigating the illnesses across multiple states. The CDC says the first known illnesses in the outbreak began May 13.
FoodNet changes face new attention
FoodNet, formally the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, is a partnership involving the CDC, FDA, 10 state health departments and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the CDC. The network stopped mandatory reporting last year for six of eight pathogens it tracks, including cyclospora, after funding cuts.
Kennedy said those changes did not impair the outbreak investigation. He told reporters that the surveillance program had not been cut and that reductions in FoodNet removed redundant work.
Cyclospora can complicate outbreak investigations because of its long incubation period, according to the account of the federal response. That lag can make it harder for investigators to quickly connect illnesses to a specific food source.
Federal health officials continue to point consumers and health providers to CDC and FDA updates as the investigation proceeds. As of the CDC’s latest figures cited Tuesday, the outbreak had caused hospitalizations but no reported deaths.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.