Taylor Farms again finds itself at the center of another outbreak. Taylor Farms has, in fact, a long history of involvement in outbreaks linked to produce growers/processors in the United States – and it is not alone. The industry has long been plagued by recurring recalls adn outbreaks linked to dangerous food borne pathogens.
More than 50 E. Coli McDonald’s Victims Confirmed so Far, with at Least 26 Just in Colorado.
Taylor Farms, a major supplier of fresh-cut produce based in Salinas, California, is no stranger to food borne pathogen outbreaks and significant food poisoning incidents over the years. These have often led to widespread recalls and production pauses. In this respect, Taylor Farms is not alone – by any stretch. Many of the large agricultural producers and distributors in the U.S. face similar challenges curtailing food borne pathogens, as seen by the number of outbreaks and recalls announced nearly every year by industry leaders. While the issues facing producers like Taylor Farms primarily involve bacterial contamination, with notable cases involving Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, they also include parasitic contamination, like Cyclospora.
Recent Bacteria Outbreaks Linked to Produce – Leafy Greens, Onions and other Produce
Packaged Leafy Greens (2021): The FDA and CDC investigated a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to packaged leafy greens from an indoor hydroponic operation. This outbreak affected 31 individuals across several states, emphasizing the complexity of preventing contamination even in controlled environments. Investigations revealed stormwater retention basin contamination near the facility, highlighting environmental risks even for hydroponically grown produce.
E. coli O157 in Spinach (2021): In late 2021, an outbreak of E. coli was traced to spinach, with cases reported across multiple states. The investigation included traceback efforts to farms in California and Oregon, though inspectors couldn’t pinpoint a direct contamination source. This highlighted the challenges of managing E. coli risk in leafy greens, especially when product co-mingling occurs across different batches and farms.
Onion Outbreaks (2020-2021): In both 2020 and 2021, large-scale outbreaks of salmonella were identified linked to onions. State and federal officials pointed to Thomson onions in 2020, with CDPH issuing a report on the Salmonella Newport outbreak. In 2021, it was ProSource Produce and Keller Family Farm onions imported from Mexico.
Romaine Lettuce (2018): In 2018 there was a Romaine Lettuce outbreak. This one was not directly attributed to Taylor Farms, but implicated romaine lettuce from the Yuma region where Taylor Farms operates facilities. It demonstrated the dangers inherent, once again, in large-scale produce production. This outbreak concerned outbreak of E. coli O157 that affected more than 200 individuals in the U.S. and Canada. The FDA and CDC’s joint investigation prompted recalls and advisories to avoid romaine lettuce from the region during the identified harvest period to prevent further illnesses.
Celery Products (2015): In 2015, Taylor Farms’ celery, used in Costco’s rotisserie chicken salad, was linked to an E. coli O157 outbreak that resulted in 19 illnesses. Taylor Farms was compelled to recall the product after celery products contaminated with E. coli O157 were linked to the illnesses. The celery, distributed to numerous retailers, was found to have affected multiple states and lead to a number of hospitalizations. This incident brought renewed scrutiny to Taylor Farms’ practices, as E. coli can be particularly dangerous due to its potential for causing severe illness, particularly in vulnerable populations.
Taylor Farms and Parasites – Cyclospora
Perhaps the most prominent and publicized outbreak linked to Taylor Farms was in 2013, when its subsidiary in Mexico was connected to an outbreak of Cyclospora infections. This outbreak affected hundreds across the United States and was linked to salads served in popular restaurant chains like Olive Garden and Red Lobster. This Cyclospora outbreak sickened over 600 people across multiple states. An FDA investigation found that Cyclospora, a parasitic pathogen, likely originated from contaminated water used in the processing facility. Following this, Taylor Farms de Mexico temporarily halted its operations to address the contamination and review safety practices, resuming only after reassessing and enhancing its processing protocols.
Industry Lessons Learned – Further Change Needed
Following these outbreaks and recalls, Taylor Farms (like other players in the industry) has implemented stricter quality controls, including additional sanitation protocols and regular inspections across its facilities, which are located strategically across North America to serve major supermarkets and restaurant chains. These efforts reflect Taylor Farms’ attempts to manage the difficulties in the fresh-cut produce industry, which has increasingly been subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny and consumer expectations for food safety.
But clearly, not enough has been done. Taylor Farms’ (as well as the other major produce providers in the U.S.) continue to have recurring issues with contamination. This has prompted calls for changes in the broader industry, driving improvements in produce safety practices, like better tracing and response strategies, to minimize the spread of foodborne illnesses.
The McDonald’s Onion E. Coli Outbreak – Taylor Farms Onions in the Spotlight
The recent E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders is suspected to involve onions supplied by Taylor Farms. Taylor Farms has even issued a recall on their onions after these were identified as a likely source of the contamination affecting McDonald’s burgers. At least 49 people across multiple states have reported illness, with one confirmed death. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working with Taylor Farms to trace the contamination pathway and confirm the source. Several fast-food chains, including McDonald’s, have temporarily removed onions from their menus to mitigate further risk to consumers while investigations continue.
While Taylor Farms is only one of many large-scale producers/suppliers entities to be faced with these concerns, its history of recalls related to foodborne illnesses, including incidents with E. coli, Cyclospora, and Listeria, underscores the persistent challenges of contamination within fresh-cut produce and distribution networks, which continue to be a focus of regulatory scrutiny to protect public health.
