News and Stories

Markon is closely monitoring the cyclosporiasis outbreak investigations being conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of July 30, 2015 a total of 358 ill persons have been confirmed ill with Cyclospora infection throughout 26 states in 2015.

What we know:

• Clusters of illness have been identified to restaurants or events in Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin
• Cluster investigations in Texas and Wisconsin have preliminarily identified cilantro as the suspected probable source
• Cluster investigations in Georgia and Texas are still ongoing
• Investigations to identify food items linked to illnesses that are not part of the identified clusters are still ongoing
• Previous U.S. outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to imported fresh produce, including cilantro from Puebla, Mexico
• On July 27, 2015 the FDA issued an Import Alert for cilantro grown in the Puebla region of Mexico

Attached for review are the CDC and FDA press releases as well as previous Markon communications regarding the FDA Import Alert on cilantro from Puebla, Mexico.

Markon will continue to update members should more information become available.

Angie Ramirez

Food Safety Supervisor

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