Sysco Halts Mexican Iceberg Lettuce Purchases Amid Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

Sysco Corp., the largest food distributor in the United States, has halted all purchases of iceberg lettuce from Mexico in response to a major U.S. outbreak of cyclosporiasis. The move signals significant disruption to food supply chains as health authorities continue to investigate the source of the widespread intestinal illness.

Company Response

In an interview with Reuters on Tuesday, Sysco CEO Kevin Hourican confirmed the purchasing decision. "We’re not buying iceberg lettuce from them, and we’re not buying it from Mexico," Hourican stated. He added, "To the degree that we can further diversify our procurement, that is something we’re actively working on."

This action follows a mid-July move by Sysco (SYY) to stop the sale and distribution of iceberg lettuce from supplier Taylor Farms' operations in Mexico. The company initiated a voluntary recall at that time, which was later followed by an official recall notification from Taylor Farms, according to Hourican.

Outbreak Investigation

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The U.S. is currently experiencing its largest-ever recorded outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal disease caused by the Cyclospora parasite. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has connected the outbreak to iceberg lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms in central Mexico and served at Taco Bell restaurants.

Key facts about the outbreak include:

• Cause: The disease is spread when people consume food or water contaminated with human feces containing the parasite.
• Symptoms: It causes symptoms such as explosive diarrhea, but is not typically considered life-threatening.
• Severity: Health officials in Michigan reported Monday that two individuals with underlying health conditions have died, noting that the disease and related dehydration may have been contributing factors.

Authorities have stated that the investigation is ongoing as they search for additional potential sources of contamination.