After this summer’s cyclospora outbreaks in South Dakota and the U-S, small farm advocates want regulators to support regional food producers instead of corporations. Investigators traced the outbreaks to Taylor Farms of Mexico, which supplied lettuce to fast food chains, other restaurants and grocery stores.
Farm Action’s Joe Maxwell says even though consumers have different choices in stores and restaurants, one supplier often provides many of those products. “40% of the mixed salad kits in the country are tailored farms. 40%!” said Maxwell. “So regardless of where you walk into, the likelihood is that you could be dealing with Taylor Farms,” he continued. “The restaurants and the others need to be asking more questions.”
South Dakota’s health department has reported 17 cyclospora cases this year. The C-D-C has reported nearly 11 thousand cases nationwide since the outbreaks began in mid-June.
GDNS