FDA: Cyclospora Lettuce off Market, Produce Safe

Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said Tuesday that Americans should feel safe eating fresh produce, declaring the tainted iceberg lettuce behind the summer's multistate cyclospora outbreak had been "effectively removed from the market" and pointing to new agency guidance for producers of chopped lettuce, cut melon, and other ready-to-eat items.

"We have the safest food supply in the world," Diamantas said in a CNBC interview Tuesday, pointing to California-based Taylor Farms' July 17 voluntary recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from its central Mexico operation.

The Department of Health and Human Services amplified the message, posting on social media, "Cyclospora: contained, American food: safe."

Federal investigators traced the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce grown at Taylor Farms de Mexico's central Mexico operation and served at Taco Bell restaurants. The company recalled the product on July 17 and suspended production at the facility the next day.

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