The two deaths were reported in Michigan but have not been specifically linked to the Taylor Farms lettuce at the center of the narrower federal investigation. State health officials said both people had significant underlying health conditions that may have been affected by cyclosporiasis and dehydration.
Sysco halted sales and distribution of Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from Mexico in mid-July and conducted a voluntary recall before Taylor Farms issued its official recall, Hourican told Reuters. The distributor is now obtaining lettuce from other countries and growing regions.
The decision could affect restaurants, hospitals, schools, stadiums and other institutions that obtain food through Sysco. Hourican said the company has continued meeting customers’ lettuce needs, though replacing the volume supplied by Taylor Farms has been a challenge.
Chipotle Removes Jalapeños
Separately, health officials are investigating jalapeños served at Chipotle restaurants as a possible source of a salmonella outbreak.
Chipotle said the jalapeños were distributed to several food-service retailers in multiple states. The company removed them from select restaurants and replaced them with jalapeños from different growers after identifying the ingredient as a possible link among the illnesses.