The lettuce affair that refuses to end: Taco Bell's supplier turned to the White House
Thousands of patients, a faulty test, and a controversial recall: the agricultural giant demanded more time and evidence before its name was revealed. The White House reviewed the FDA's findings and decided in favor of publishing them.
Representatives of the agricultural giant Taylor Farms turned to the White House with a request to delay the announcement of a recall for the company's products, which were linked to one of the largest foodborne illness outbreaks in U.S. history. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The company, one of the largest agricultural producers in the U.S., requested additional evidence and more time before its name would be linked to the Cyclospora outbreak—a parasite that can cause severe diarrhea. The outbreak spread across several states and led to the illness of thousands of people.
According to the report, company executives turned to the White House after they felt they had not received sufficient clarification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the evidence against them and the scope of the planned recall. The appeal was facilitated by Trent Morse, a lobbyist who previously held a senior position at the White House and currently represents Taylor Farms.
The White House asked FDA representatives to join a call with the company. During the call, Taylor Farms argued that the authorities did not have positive laboratory results linking its products to the outbreak and that the administration was exaggerating its level of responsibility. Conversely, the U.S. Department of Health argued that the FDA had presented the company with significant evidence and had conducted comprehensive discussions with it.
Subsequently, the White House held a separate call with FDA officials to examine how they traced the source of the outbreak and why they determined it was linked to shredded lettuce that Taylor Farms supplied to the Taco Bell chain. Administration officials were convinced by the findings and gave the agency the green light to publish them.
The recall was announced—but the company's name was not published
In a statement released by the FDA on July 16, the agency refrained from naming Taylor Farms due to legal restrictions regarding trade secrets. The agency stated only that cases of illness in five states were linked to Taco Bell and a single supplier in Mexico.
The next day, Taylor Farms announced a voluntary recall for all its iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The company claimed it immediately removed from the market all products that were under suspicion and later expanded the recall as a precaution.
Last Saturday, the FDA announced that Cyclospora had been found in a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce—in what appeared to be the first laboratory evidence linking the company to the outbreak. The agency also stated that the sample was taken from lettuce that was not included in the recall, which raised concerns that other dangerous products were still on the market.
However, a day later, the FDA retracted its statement and announced that it was a false positive result. The change in version caused widespread confusion and provided Taylor Farms with a basis to challenge the investigation's conclusions. The company stated that the agency had apologized to it and emphasized that no positive laboratory test linking its products to the parasite had been found.
Health officials were quick to clarify that despite the error in the test, strong epidemiological evidence still points to Taylor Farms as the source of the outbreak and that the recall remains in effect. The FDA also denied that it had issued an official apology. Subsequently, the company deleted a post on social media in which it had highlighted the alleged apology.
Criticism of the company and the authorities
Taylor Farms' response caused frustration among administration officials, who saw it as an attempt to cast doubt on the investigation and obscure the company's role. On the other hand, the conduct of the authorities also drew criticism.
Frank Yiannas, a former deputy commissioner of the FDA, argued that the agency acted slowly. The cases of illness began as early as May 13, about two months before federal authorities issued the first warning. According to him, the agency should have disclosed the supplier's identity earlier and verified the test results before the erroneous publication. "This is an unacceptable, regrettable mistake with consequences," he said.
Taylor Farms announced that it has hired independent experts for a comprehensive review of food safety procedures at its farms and facilities in central Mexico. The company, which says it invests more than $200 million a year in food safety, has temporarily suspended production at its processing facility in the area until the review is completed.
