Contaminated Lettuce: A Canary in the Coal Mine for Global Food Safety The recent outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a diarrheal illness caused by the microscopic parasite cyclospora, has left thousands of Americans scrambling to avoid contaminated produce.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has finally pinpointed the source of the contamination lettuce imported from Mexico and served at Taco Bell locations in several states.
The ease with which a single shipment of lettuce can cause widespread illness is a stark reminder that our globalized food system is woefully unprepared to handle the risks associated with international trade.