FDA finds cyclospora at Taylor Farms de Mexico sites, source of lettuce outbreak still unclear
The FDA said on 2 October that two samples from Taylor Farms de Mexico sites tested positive for cyclospora, a potential source of the summer lettuce-linked outbreak. It said how the parasite reached the lettuce remains unclear.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 1The Food and Drug Administration said on Friday 2 October that it had found a potential source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to lettuce over the summer. ABC NewsLC “The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Friday it has found a potential source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak that was tied to lettuce over the summer.” Read at ABC News ↗ Left · 1The agency collected samples during onsite inspections of Taylor Farms de Mexico facilities, and two tested positive for the parasite cyclospora. ABC NewsLC “Two samples tested positive for the parasite, cyclospora, according to the FDA.” Read at ABC News ↗ Mixed · 2One positive sample came from a tank holding outgoing wastewater from a processing facility, and the other from a drainage ditch of an iceberg lettuce grower. ABC NewsLC “One positive sample was from a tank that held outgoing wastewater from a processing facility, the agency said.” Read at ABC News ↗ New York PostR “FDA inspectors said Friday they found cyclospora in two places: a wastewater tank and a drainage ditch used for lettuce cultivation.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1According to the AP, the FDA said it is unclear how the parasite got into the lettuce, but that the samples provide "strong epidemiological data" linking the outbreak to the Taylor Farms site. New York PostR “While it’s unclear how the contamination took place, the FDA said the samples provide “strong epidemiological data” linking the outbreak to the Taylor Farms site.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The outbreak, described as the largest foodborne cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history, caused nearly 13,000 cases of diarrhea and other illnesses across the country; the FDA has closed its investigation, and U.S. officials declared the outbreak over last month. New York PostR “The agency has now closed its investigation into the outbreak, which led to nearly 13,000 cases of diarrhea and other illnesses across the U.S.”“U.S. officials last month declared the outbreak had ended.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The inspection at the farm in Guanajuato came more than six weeks before the announcement and was the FDA's first visit there in more than seven years, following a steep drop in international food safety inspections after the COVID-19 pandemic. New York PostR “The visit was the agency’s first time there in more than seven years following a steep drop in international food safety inspections after the COVID-19 pandemic.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1In a separate statement, Taylor Farms attributed the contamination to an independent grower "who is no longer part of our supplier program" and said its facility in central Mexico remains closed while it implements enhanced safety protocols. New York PostR “In a separate statement, Taylor Farms attributed the contamination cited by FDA to an independent grower “who is no longer part of our supplier program.”” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Mexico's food safety regulators announced in August that their own investigation found no cyclospora in the lettuce or water at the facility, days after the FDA retracted a faulty test result that had wrongly identified cyclospora in a Taylor Farms lettuce sample collected at the border. New York PostR “Regulators from Mexico’s food safety authority announced in August that their own investigation did not detect cyclospora in the lettuce or water at the facility.”“That conclusion came days after the FDA was forced to retract a faulty test result that had incorrectly identified cyclospora in a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms collected at the border.” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Brief breaking-news report leading with the FDA's announcement of a potential source and the two positive samples.
- Emphasis
- The FDA's finding and where the positive samples were collected.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Outbreak size, the closed investigation, Taylor Farms' response, Mexican regulators' findings and the earlier retracted test.
- For example
-
“This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.” — ABC News
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- AP copy run by the New York Post, leading with cyclospora found at the farm and adding context on the outbreak's scale and open questions. The wording is the agency's, not the outlet's own framing.
- Emphasis
- Outbreak scale, the FDA's first visit in seven years, Taylor Farms' response and the earlier contradicting results.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Nothing notable beyond the wire's own content.
- For example
-
“Despite the finding, the FDA said it’s unclear how the parasite got into lettuce at Taylor Farms’ facility.” — New York Post
What every side reports
- The FDA said on 2 October that samples from Taylor Farms de Mexico sites tested positive for cyclospora.
- The positive samples came from a wastewater tank and a drainage ditch.
- The outbreak was tied to lettuce over the summer.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether cyclospora was present at the Mexican facility
- Left
- Reports the FDA's finding of two positive samples; no mention of other findings.
- Right
- Reports the FDA finding (AP copy), but notes Mexican regulators found no cyclospora in lettuce or water in August and that the FDA had retracted an earlier faulty test.
Food and Drug Administration organisation
Says inspectors found cyclospora in a wastewater tank and a drainage ditch; says how contamination occurred is unclear but cites strong epidemiological data linking the outbreak to the site, and has closed its investigation.
“the FDA said the samples provide “strong epidemiological data” linking the outbreak to the Taylor Farms site.” — New York Post
Taylor Farms organisation
Attributes the contamination to an independent grower no longer in its supplier program and says its Mexican facility remains closed while it adds safety protocols.
““Our facility remains closed in central Mexico as we work with our research team to implement enhanced safety protocols from the field to the facility,” the company said.” — New York Post
Left1 article
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FDA finds potential source of cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to lettuce
Neutral Short, factual breaking-news item reporting the FDA's positive samples.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
New York PostR · · via AP
Cyclospora found at Mexican farm linked to cyclospora outbreak: FDA says
Neutral AP wire copy giving the finding plus context, caveats and the company's response.
- 2 Oct 20:36 First ABC NewsLC FDA finds potential source of cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to lettuce
- 3 Oct 02:28 +5h 52m New York PostR Cyclospora found at Mexican farm linked to cyclospora outbreak: FDA says via AP
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.