July 20, 2026 • 19 mins
It was a stunning reversal in just 24 hours. The FDA has publicly admitted it made a mistake, and the lettuce supplier to Taco Bell claims its even apologized to them, after it now says it has not found any confirmed source to the biggest cyclospora outbreak in the history of the United States. The agency has announced that lab experts “re-reviewed” sample results and determined that the Taylor Farm lettuce tested for cyclospora showed a “false positive” result for cyclospora. So now what?
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey, there are folks, it is Monday, July twentieth. Then
pull the toilet paper. We got folks set up shop
on toilets all over the country. We're being told we
need to avoid this, let us at certain places. Taco
Bell stock continues to go down. And now what is
the federal government telling us? We got a false positive
(00:24):
on our cyclospora test? And with that, welcome to this
episode of Amy and TJ. Does it even matter what
they tell us next?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
No, And that's a hell of a whoopsie, I mean,
and it was what twenty four hours they have identified
the source. And look, we even threw caution out there
that yes, they identified a source, maybe not the source
they were able to they claimed on Saturday link much
of this outbreak, or at least a big portion of
(00:53):
this outbreak to a specific food producer that had a
farm in Mexico that sold iceberg lettuce to Taco Bell
in five states.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Okay, we're getting somewhere. Except for now they.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Say, never mind, that was a mistake.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
We're sorry.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
We actually don't have any idea where the cyclospora source
is coming from.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Well, here we go, folks, So if we it makes sense,
And this is a difficult statement to make, but it
is one they wanted to be clear. On robes. They
have not gotten a single test back from any plant
anywhere testing any food that is positive for cyclospora. That
is the truth as we wake up here on this
(01:42):
Monday morning. They were robes. They could still with some
degree of what I don't know if it's certainty, but
be optimistic about the way things are going from all
these interviews that the CDC was doing. It's not fool proof,
but they at least thought they were on the right now.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yes, because the CDC was tracing.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I mean, much like we all remember from the days
of COVID where they did contact tracing. They're trying to
find who patient zero is, or at least find what
or who the source was. The same idea exists. They
were trying to trace back based on folks eating habits,
their food diary so to speak, that they were trying
to put together for the past two weeks and find
(02:23):
some commonality, and that commonality was pointing towards taco bell
And when they looked to see what folks ate, they
tried to yes, based on verbal evidence, basically folks telling
them what they ate. Say, hey, the one thing a
lot of these people all had in common is they
ate a product with this Iceberg lettuce on it.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
So it's anecdotal, it's not scientific.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
And so with that, in combination with this what they
thought was a positive test from lettuce, they were able
to make this big announcement that yes, we have determined
or found a source.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Taylor Farms reacted to that pulled everything they don't they pulled?
Did they not pull all of their well from this farm?
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I should say, I can tell you here are the
actions that were taken based on this information where we
were given. Just a short while ago, Tailor Farms voluntarily
removed all Iceberg lettuce source from Mexico from twenty seven states.
So we're not just talking about Taco Bell. We're talking
about every place they sent that lettuce to. They voluntarily
recalled it. Taco Bell removed all affected Tailor Farms lettuce
(03:31):
from its restaurants, put out a big statement saying, you
can eat at our restaurants again, we have no lettuce
from Tailor Farms. Walmart even announced over the weekend they
removed four market side bagged Iceberg lettuce salad products.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
These are big salad kits.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
That are they have the label of the Walmart label
on it, but it actually is manufactured by Tailor Farms.
So they took out and they made it clear, hey,
this is a precautionary move. There's no confirmed illnesses, but
out of an abundance of caution, we're taking all of
these products off of our store shelf. So a lot
was done in response to what our government was telling us.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
I guess it's possible that this is correct. It's possible
this is still the farm. This is possible, I guess
roads through the trade. But don't they need to find
don't they need to confirm it's coming from there before
we know how to go about our eating lies.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
They have to And yes, they did say they are
still following through with these recalls, and you should still assume,
perhaps that they are close to identifying a source. So
they aren't stopping the recall, they aren't stopping the removal
of those products, and they're not telling people to go
(04:50):
ahead and eat those products. No, they are still standing
by the original direction that they gave the country. But
it is incredible, confusing and erodes a very I don't
even know if there was trust right now, at least
in our government agencies, pretty much any of them.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
What is the level of trust we have for our government,
for the folks who were supposed to be protecting us
on all accounts, on all fronts, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
But wherever it was, it just got worse.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
I think to read the FDA statement is appropriate right
now because this is what they had to say.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
This is pretty remarkable.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Can you recall, by the way, the last time a
government agency said we made a mistake.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
You know what? That was a time in ninety seven.
I think that's fine.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
I did say, someone say, this showed incredible courage. No,
this is what you're supposed to do. I hate applauding.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Correct I saw a scientist in one of the articles
I might have been the Washington Post saying, Hey, this
actually should be applauded. This as courageous to be able
to admit a mistake, something to that effect, And I thought,
I'm sorry, isn't that what we should expect.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Yes, don't award your kid for being polite that you're
supposed to. I taught you to do this.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
No, I took total issue without Okay, here's the FDA
statement the FDA is providing an update regarding this sample
of lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms of Mexico, which was
reported positive on July eighteenth, twenty twenty six. Due to
the complexity in detection of cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re
(06:30):
reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding
does not represent true amplification and should be considered a
false positive. Information about the sample has been removed from
the update. The FDA has notified Taylor Farms and continues
working with the firm to ensure product implicated in this
(06:52):
outbreak has been removed from the market. FDA and state
partners continue to collect and analyze product sample and here's
the big line. As of July nineteenth, twenty twenty six,
there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing
for cyclospora.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I have some questions. They re reviewed it.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Why Why wouldn't they have done that before they issued
the announcement.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
I'm confused timing. I don't know how the testing goes.
Maybe there is that's possible, but that is something you
don't go public with unless you know what you're talking about.
I would assume, right.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I don't think so too, and Also, the science is complicated.
Testing for this organism is difficult, and false positives are
always possible. So what can we trust when you hear
these types of phrases. I always thought science was the
thing we could count on.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
That's the thing. False positives are possible when you figure
it out for sure. That's when you let me know.
I don't understand this.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I don't need to be let known something in the
middle of the process if things could change. And because
I am not a scientist, you are going to confuse
me even more.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
We just had you just told us, hey, this stuff
has cyclospora, but you didn't put in parentheses. We won't
be sure though for a couple of days. Why didn't
just give us a heads up? This could be a
false positive, but the preliminary results that bro is never
The crime is to cover up. It's yes, we have
problems in the system, but now the problem is how
(08:26):
we're communicating what the problem is. I get it. I
know there are fewer people keeping an eye out for
diseases like this, and things and outbreaks maybe happen more
and can't get called us fast. This I understand, But
when they happen, now you're making it worse. We got
numbers kind of out of Michigan. Why are they coming
out much faster than the ones we're getting from the
(08:46):
federal government, who we're all supposed to be listening to.
Even that is causing confusion through this whole thing. The
lettuce is here, it is there? Is there a raspberry
or a snowpee? Or is there a bag let us?
Should I cut the head? Bro?
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Should I have cilantro? Can I have peak of the guy?
I QUACAMOLEA know what?
Speaker 1 (09:01):
And here we go again? Who has stepped out? Who
is leading the charge on this tropes? Who's a public
face and is giving us information?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
No one wants it to be that would be my answer.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
And I don't know that they have the body count
to provide that because they don't have the resources they
had before. Taylor Farm's statement was swift and they want
to make things very clear. I thought this was fascinating.
The first it's a big green message with white bold lettering,
and the first sentence is today FDA apologized to us. Yesterday,
(09:37):
FDA informed Taylor Fresh Foods that one of its iceberg
lettuce products from Central Mexico had a confirmed positive test.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
For cyclist SPORA.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Today, we were informed that the FDA made a mistake
and this was a false positive.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Look.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
They said, to be clear, at this moment, the FDA
has not identified a single positive product test result for cyclists.
So they put this in bold, and I, you know,
this is something that does tremendous damage, obviously to a company.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
I'm wondering if this is.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Bad enough where this could put someone or at least
a farm, or certainly people who work on that farm
out of a job or out of business.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
But they put this in bold in their statement.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
All other tailor farm products, including all Tailor Farm brand products,
are not involved in the recall. And they said, our
thoughts remain with everyone who has fallen ill in this outbreak.
We are committed to working with public health authorities as
the ongoing.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Outbreak investigation continues.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Look, this is this is tough for everybody. This is
especially tough for tailor farms. And it's not to say
that they're not a part of this. They could still
be a part of this. But wow, this is unbelievably damaging.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Two. I thought when I saw this statement, I thought
it was unbelievably damaging to the FDA, and its relationship
with American Public. The company has come out and they
know good and hell well what this means. It doesn't
mean they're in the clear. They know this, They know
that they probably even know the stuff likely came from them.
They know what we don't know.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
They've been involved in outbreaks before.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
There was a big echol I want a few years ago,
so they have been down this road.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
They know that this is possible and even likely in
some ways.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
But they led with the thing that was true, even
though it is misleading, but it's the most positive thing
that came from it. The FDA did apologize to an
oopsie to them. They took that and made it the headline,
which makes it seem as if we are innocent in
this entire matter and the FDA has cleared us. No no, no, no, no, no,
(11:44):
not at all. But they took that was that was
written like a Hollywood PR person.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Not absolutely, it was like a big movie scroll. And
to your point, babe, when we come back, we're going
to talk about the eroded public trust and that big statement.
People had plenty of comments following that statement. They weren't
positive towards Taylor Farm. And wait until you hear about
the CDC cuts that potentially led up to this massive
(12:10):
cyclospora outbreak, and welcome back everyone to this episode of
Amy and TJ. Looks like we are back to square
one trying to find the source of this cyclost spora
outbreak that we know has sickened at least seven thousand
(12:32):
people across the country. It is already the largest cyclospora
outbreak in US history, And go ahead and multiply that
number by two or three. That's probably a more realistic
situation in terms of how many people are dealing with this.
And we haven't even gotten the updated numbers from over
the weekend. So all this to say, this has been
(12:55):
an incredibly uncomfortable, difficult, and perhaps an unnecessary outbreak. It
began back in May. We know that in Michigan, and look,
CNN is reporting about some significant lab cuts. The head
of the lab has been speaking out. He resigned. I
don't even really remember this, but I guess I kind
(13:16):
of do. Back in September, he was so upset because
his staff went from eleven to three, and that is
the lab that.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Is specifically.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Supposed to identify parasitic outbreaks. Coincidence, he thinks, not.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Sure the timing is suspect.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Three people are in charge of this lab right now.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
It's this lab that has three people in it that
now reevaluated the results and realized.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
That it was a false positive.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
I mean, I don't know. Sounds like you would want more.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
But he describes this outbreak as the perfect storm because
one percent he actually sent an email emails out to
the CDC about the risks of losing basically his entire
staff and is the reason behind him actually resigning his
position because he did not want to be in charge
of something if an outbreak were to occur. Fast forward
(14:14):
a few months and here we are in July, way
behind the curve of the CDC. Numbers are way behind
what state officials are reporting.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
And that's a fact.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
They are behind the curve here, and it could absolutely
be part of the reason why we're so behind and
identifying a source.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I don't know how anyone could argue with that. And
if you're telling me the guy who's in there correct
it's coming out and giving his opinion about it, then
I'd have to listen to him. But right now, Robes,
we can fix that problem later. Right now, we just
got to find this one. I am very curious to
know what the numbers are when they do get them
out today. Are they going to slow down? Is this
(14:52):
thing spreading even more? Is it going to be forty
two states? I mean, what is going on? We don't
know where this stuff is. We don't even know for
sure what thus.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Nope, we're supposed to be looking for meantime, everyone's trying
to figure out what to do.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
This is the time of your people love to eat
fresh produce.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
You want that salad, you want those fruits, you want
those veggies, you want that basil. And I guess this
is the time. My dad pointed this out, who is
a microologist. It's a great time to have a yard
in a garden, because that'd be the only way I
would trust the produce that I was eating. And look,
I was just looking at some of the comments at
the bottom of that tailor Farm's big statement, basically pointing
(15:31):
the finger right back at the government. And look, some
people said, I just threw away two bags of salad
kits for no reason. I mean, there's a lot of
wasted produce, a lot of wasted money. A lot of
folks are tough, some people, A lot of this we
don't believe you were lies. Must be nice to have
the president in your pocket and take zero accountability. And look,
there are a lot of people are posting the fact
(15:52):
that they claim Taylor Farms gave a million dollars to
MAGA this past spring, and they're saying that. So the
amount of my point is, no one trusts Taylor Farms,
no one trusts the government.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
One person put up there.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
The CEO and the FDA commissioner should eat a random
bag of Taylor lettuce from the shelf on camera live.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Then I'll believe them.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
That would be awesome. That is a brilliant freaking idea.
It's low risk for whoever's eating it. I mean, the
chances are right.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
That was my favorite post. That's what I wanted to do.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Good. The CEO of Taylor Farms and the FDA commissioners
should eat a random bag of Taylor letters from the
shelf on camera live.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
What would you do? How could you help this situation?
Just throw a slid brunch something major. Oh that's a
good idea.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Uh yes, so look, we will wait to hear more
from officials, But the problem is, even once we do,
are they going to be believed? What we are at
a place now where I think this is the lowest
I've ever seen in terms of trust, trust for anyone
and with anyone, and including every single government agency right now,
(17:04):
and this is of serious public health concern.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I'd listen to Fauci right now. And who is the
lady that had the scars all the time the doctor
was he? I would listen to her right now on
this one. They would be great. Nobody's dying? Have this
country not a problem? Oh my goodness, Yes, that's all.
We just need a voice, trusted voice, I say, a
(17:29):
trusted voice. I would just say a trusted position, or
a trusted uniform, or a trusted something we don't have
to even know as a whole background. We need someone
in a position of authority that we go, okay, this
isn't a partisan bullshit, or we can listen.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I don't know what that They have a huge pr
problem right now and public health including you know RFK
Junior as controversial as all as all of his statements
have been.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
And look, I really like, who do we look to,
Who is the medical voice of reason? Who is that
public health official who we can and I'll.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Say, okay, we're getting it straight from this person, from
the head of the Health and Human Services who is
probably one of the biggest lightning rods in terms of
political discourse. I mean, who do we look to at
this point? I don't think we have the answer.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
We haven't heard from.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Where's doctor Oze? Where are they?
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Someone needs to come out from this administration and make
some sense of all of these confusing headlines.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
This is a disaster.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
But then you'd be the face of cyclospora.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I mean, maybe you could just be the voice of
it right yes, it of public health and trust and
there's a void right now and folks are really really
looking for some answers. We'll continue to stay on top
of the story as it continues to change hour by hour.
We always appreciate you listening to us, every one. I'm
(18:51):
Amy Roboch alongside DJ Holmes.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
We'll talk to you some.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Man. Tim
Hey, there are folks, it is Monday, July twentieth. Then
pull the toilet paper. We got folks set up shop
on toilets all over the country. We're being told we
need to avoid this, let us at certain places. Taco
Bell stock continues to go down. And now what is
the federal government telling us? We got a false positive
(00:24):
on our cyclospora test? And with that, welcome to this
episode of Amy and TJ. Does it even matter what
they tell us next?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
No, And that's a hell of a whoopsie, I mean,
and it was what twenty four hours they have identified
the source. And look, we even threw caution out there
that yes, they identified a source, maybe not the source
they were able to they claimed on Saturday link much
of this outbreak, or at least a big portion of
(00:53):
this outbreak to a specific food producer that had a
farm in Mexico that sold iceberg lettuce to Taco Bell
in five states.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Okay, we're getting somewhere. Except for now they.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Say, never mind, that was a mistake.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
We're sorry.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
We actually don't have any idea where the cyclospora source
is coming from.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Well, here we go, folks, So if we it makes sense,
And this is a difficult statement to make, but it
is one they wanted to be clear. On robes. They
have not gotten a single test back from any plant
anywhere testing any food that is positive for cyclospora. That
is the truth as we wake up here on this
(01:42):
Monday morning. They were robes. They could still with some
degree of what I don't know if it's certainty, but
be optimistic about the way things are going from all
these interviews that the CDC was doing. It's not fool proof,
but they at least thought they were on the right now.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yes, because the CDC was tracing.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I mean, much like we all remember from the days
of COVID where they did contact tracing. They're trying to
find who patient zero is, or at least find what
or who the source was. The same idea exists. They
were trying to trace back based on folks eating habits,
their food diary so to speak, that they were trying
to put together for the past two weeks and find
(02:23):
some commonality, and that commonality was pointing towards taco bell
And when they looked to see what folks ate, they
tried to yes, based on verbal evidence, basically folks telling
them what they ate. Say, hey, the one thing a
lot of these people all had in common is they
ate a product with this Iceberg lettuce on it.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
So it's anecdotal, it's not scientific.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
And so with that, in combination with this what they
thought was a positive test from lettuce, they were able
to make this big announcement that yes, we have determined
or found a source.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Taylor Farms reacted to that pulled everything they don't they pulled?
Did they not pull all of their well from this farm?
Speaker 2 (03:07):
I should say, I can tell you here are the
actions that were taken based on this information where we
were given. Just a short while ago, Tailor Farms voluntarily
removed all Iceberg lettuce source from Mexico from twenty seven states.
So we're not just talking about Taco Bell. We're talking
about every place they sent that lettuce to. They voluntarily
recalled it. Taco Bell removed all affected Tailor Farms lettuce
(03:31):
from its restaurants, put out a big statement saying, you
can eat at our restaurants again, we have no lettuce
from Tailor Farms. Walmart even announced over the weekend they
removed four market side bagged Iceberg lettuce salad products.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
These are big salad kits.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
That are they have the label of the Walmart label
on it, but it actually is manufactured by Tailor Farms.
So they took out and they made it clear, hey,
this is a precautionary move. There's no confirmed illnesses, but
out of an abundance of caution, we're taking all of
these products off of our store shelf. So a lot
was done in response to what our government was telling us.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
I guess it's possible that this is correct. It's possible
this is still the farm. This is possible, I guess
roads through the trade. But don't they need to find
don't they need to confirm it's coming from there before
we know how to go about our eating lies.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
They have to And yes, they did say they are
still following through with these recalls, and you should still assume,
perhaps that they are close to identifying a source. So
they aren't stopping the recall, they aren't stopping the removal
of those products, and they're not telling people to go
(04:50):
ahead and eat those products. No, they are still standing
by the original direction that they gave the country. But
it is incredible, confusing and erodes a very I don't
even know if there was trust right now, at least
in our government agencies, pretty much any of them.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
What is the level of trust we have for our government,
for the folks who were supposed to be protecting us
on all accounts, on all fronts, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
But wherever it was, it just got worse.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
I think to read the FDA statement is appropriate right
now because this is what they had to say.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
This is pretty remarkable.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Can you recall, by the way, the last time a
government agency said we made a mistake.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
You know what? That was a time in ninety seven.
I think that's fine.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
I did say, someone say, this showed incredible courage. No,
this is what you're supposed to do. I hate applauding.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Correct I saw a scientist in one of the articles
I might have been the Washington Post saying, Hey, this
actually should be applauded. This as courageous to be able
to admit a mistake, something to that effect, And I thought,
I'm sorry, isn't that what we should expect.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Yes, don't award your kid for being polite that you're
supposed to. I taught you to do this.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
No, I took total issue without Okay, here's the FDA
statement the FDA is providing an update regarding this sample
of lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms of Mexico, which was
reported positive on July eighteenth, twenty twenty six. Due to
the complexity in detection of cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re
(06:30):
reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding
does not represent true amplification and should be considered a
false positive. Information about the sample has been removed from
the update. The FDA has notified Taylor Farms and continues
working with the firm to ensure product implicated in this
(06:52):
outbreak has been removed from the market. FDA and state
partners continue to collect and analyze product sample and here's
the big line. As of July nineteenth, twenty twenty six,
there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing
for cyclospora.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
I have some questions. They re reviewed it.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Why Why wouldn't they have done that before they issued
the announcement.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
I'm confused timing. I don't know how the testing goes.
Maybe there is that's possible, but that is something you
don't go public with unless you know what you're talking about.
I would assume, right.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
I don't think so too, and Also, the science is complicated.
Testing for this organism is difficult, and false positives are
always possible. So what can we trust when you hear
these types of phrases. I always thought science was the
thing we could count on.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
That's the thing. False positives are possible when you figure
it out for sure. That's when you let me know.
I don't understand this.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I don't need to be let known something in the
middle of the process if things could change. And because
I am not a scientist, you are going to confuse
me even more.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
We just had you just told us, hey, this stuff
has cyclospora, but you didn't put in parentheses. We won't
be sure though for a couple of days. Why didn't
just give us a heads up? This could be a
false positive, but the preliminary results that bro is never
The crime is to cover up. It's yes, we have
problems in the system, but now the problem is how
(08:26):
we're communicating what the problem is. I get it. I
know there are fewer people keeping an eye out for
diseases like this, and things and outbreaks maybe happen more
and can't get called us fast. This I understand, But
when they happen, now you're making it worse. We got
numbers kind of out of Michigan. Why are they coming
out much faster than the ones we're getting from the
(08:46):
federal government, who we're all supposed to be listening to.
Even that is causing confusion through this whole thing. The
lettuce is here, it is there? Is there a raspberry
or a snowpee? Or is there a bag let us?
Should I cut the head? Bro?
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Should I have cilantro? Can I have peak of the guy?
I QUACAMOLEA know what?
Speaker 1 (09:01):
And here we go again? Who has stepped out? Who
is leading the charge on this tropes? Who's a public
face and is giving us information?
Speaker 3 (09:09):
No one wants it to be that would be my answer.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
And I don't know that they have the body count
to provide that because they don't have the resources they
had before. Taylor Farm's statement was swift and they want
to make things very clear. I thought this was fascinating.
The first it's a big green message with white bold lettering,
and the first sentence is today FDA apologized to us. Yesterday,
(09:37):
FDA informed Taylor Fresh Foods that one of its iceberg
lettuce products from Central Mexico had a confirmed positive test.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
For cyclist SPORA.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Today, we were informed that the FDA made a mistake
and this was a false positive.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Look.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
They said, to be clear, at this moment, the FDA
has not identified a single positive product test result for cyclists.
So they put this in bold, and I, you know,
this is something that does tremendous damage, obviously to a company.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
I'm wondering if this is.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Bad enough where this could put someone or at least
a farm, or certainly people who work on that farm
out of a job or out of business.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
But they put this in bold in their statement.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
All other tailor farm products, including all Tailor Farm brand products,
are not involved in the recall. And they said, our
thoughts remain with everyone who has fallen ill in this outbreak.
We are committed to working with public health authorities as
the ongoing.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Outbreak investigation continues.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Look, this is this is tough for everybody. This is
especially tough for tailor farms. And it's not to say
that they're not a part of this. They could still
be a part of this. But wow, this is unbelievably damaging.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Two. I thought when I saw this statement, I thought
it was unbelievably damaging to the FDA, and its relationship
with American Public. The company has come out and they
know good and hell well what this means. It doesn't
mean they're in the clear. They know this, They know
that they probably even know the stuff likely came from them.
They know what we don't know.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
They've been involved in outbreaks before.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
There was a big echol I want a few years ago,
so they have been down this road.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
They know that this is possible and even likely in
some ways.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
But they led with the thing that was true, even
though it is misleading, but it's the most positive thing
that came from it. The FDA did apologize to an
oopsie to them. They took that and made it the headline,
which makes it seem as if we are innocent in
this entire matter and the FDA has cleared us. No no, no, no, no, no,
(11:44):
not at all. But they took that was that was
written like a Hollywood PR person.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
Not absolutely, it was like a big movie scroll. And
to your point, babe, when we come back, we're going
to talk about the eroded public trust and that big statement.
People had plenty of comments following that statement. They weren't
positive towards Taylor Farm. And wait until you hear about
the CDC cuts that potentially led up to this massive
(12:10):
cyclospora outbreak, and welcome back everyone to this episode of
Amy and TJ. Looks like we are back to square
one trying to find the source of this cyclost spora
outbreak that we know has sickened at least seven thousand
(12:32):
people across the country. It is already the largest cyclospora
outbreak in US history, And go ahead and multiply that
number by two or three. That's probably a more realistic
situation in terms of how many people are dealing with this.
And we haven't even gotten the updated numbers from over
the weekend. So all this to say, this has been
(12:55):
an incredibly uncomfortable, difficult, and perhaps an unnecessary outbreak. It
began back in May. We know that in Michigan, and look,
CNN is reporting about some significant lab cuts. The head
of the lab has been speaking out. He resigned. I
don't even really remember this, but I guess I kind
(13:16):
of do. Back in September, he was so upset because
his staff went from eleven to three, and that is
the lab that.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Is specifically.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Supposed to identify parasitic outbreaks. Coincidence, he thinks, not.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Sure the timing is suspect.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Three people are in charge of this lab right now.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
It's this lab that has three people in it that
now reevaluated the results and realized.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
That it was a false positive.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
I mean, I don't know. Sounds like you would want more.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
But he describes this outbreak as the perfect storm because
one percent he actually sent an email emails out to
the CDC about the risks of losing basically his entire
staff and is the reason behind him actually resigning his
position because he did not want to be in charge
of something if an outbreak were to occur. Fast forward
(14:14):
a few months and here we are in July, way
behind the curve of the CDC. Numbers are way behind
what state officials are reporting.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
And that's a fact.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
They are behind the curve here, and it could absolutely
be part of the reason why we're so behind and
identifying a source.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I don't know how anyone could argue with that. And
if you're telling me the guy who's in there correct
it's coming out and giving his opinion about it, then
I'd have to listen to him. But right now, Robes,
we can fix that problem later. Right now, we just
got to find this one. I am very curious to
know what the numbers are when they do get them
out today. Are they going to slow down? Is this
(14:52):
thing spreading even more? Is it going to be forty
two states? I mean, what is going on? We don't
know where this stuff is. We don't even know for
sure what thus.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Nope, we're supposed to be looking for meantime, everyone's trying
to figure out what to do.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
This is the time of your people love to eat
fresh produce.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
You want that salad, you want those fruits, you want
those veggies, you want that basil. And I guess this
is the time. My dad pointed this out, who is
a microologist. It's a great time to have a yard
in a garden, because that'd be the only way I
would trust the produce that I was eating. And look,
I was just looking at some of the comments at
the bottom of that tailor Farm's big statement, basically pointing
(15:31):
the finger right back at the government. And look, some
people said, I just threw away two bags of salad
kits for no reason. I mean, there's a lot of
wasted produce, a lot of wasted money. A lot of
folks are tough, some people, A lot of this we
don't believe you were lies. Must be nice to have
the president in your pocket and take zero accountability. And look,
there are a lot of people are posting the fact
(15:52):
that they claim Taylor Farms gave a million dollars to
MAGA this past spring, and they're saying that. So the
amount of my point is, no one trusts Taylor Farms,
no one trusts the government.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
One person put up there.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
The CEO and the FDA commissioner should eat a random
bag of Taylor lettuce from the shelf on camera live.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Then I'll believe them.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
That would be awesome. That is a brilliant freaking idea.
It's low risk for whoever's eating it. I mean, the
chances are right.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
That was my favorite post. That's what I wanted to do.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Good. The CEO of Taylor Farms and the FDA commissioners
should eat a random bag of Taylor letters from the
shelf on camera live.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
What would you do? How could you help this situation?
Just throw a slid brunch something major. Oh that's a
good idea.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
Uh yes, so look, we will wait to hear more
from officials, But the problem is, even once we do,
are they going to be believed? What we are at
a place now where I think this is the lowest
I've ever seen in terms of trust, trust for anyone
and with anyone, and including every single government agency right now,
(17:04):
and this is of serious public health concern.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I'd listen to Fauci right now. And who is the
lady that had the scars all the time the doctor
was he? I would listen to her right now on
this one. They would be great. Nobody's dying? Have this
country not a problem? Oh my goodness, Yes, that's all.
We just need a voice, trusted voice, I say, a
(17:29):
trusted voice. I would just say a trusted position, or
a trusted uniform, or a trusted something we don't have
to even know as a whole background. We need someone
in a position of authority that we go, okay, this
isn't a partisan bullshit, or we can listen.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
I don't know what that They have a huge pr
problem right now and public health including you know RFK
Junior as controversial as all as all of his statements
have been.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
And look, I really like, who do we look to,
Who is the medical voice of reason? Who is that
public health official who we can and I'll.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Say, okay, we're getting it straight from this person, from
the head of the Health and Human Services who is
probably one of the biggest lightning rods in terms of
political discourse. I mean, who do we look to at
this point? I don't think we have the answer.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
We haven't heard from.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
Where's doctor Oze? Where are they?
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Someone needs to come out from this administration and make
some sense of all of these confusing headlines.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
This is a disaster.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
But then you'd be the face of cyclospora.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
I mean, maybe you could just be the voice of
it right yes, it of public health and trust and
there's a void right now and folks are really really
looking for some answers. We'll continue to stay on top
of the story as it continues to change hour by hour.
We always appreciate you listening to us, every one. I'm
(18:51):
Amy Roboch alongside DJ Holmes.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
We'll talk to you some.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Man. Tim
Hosts And Creators
Amy Robach
T.J. Holmes
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