A cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to Taylor Farms has sickened at least 1,644 people, according to federal health officials. The FDA’s investigation and outbreak data point to shredded iceberg lettuce from the company’s facilities in central Mexico as the contamination source. Although recalled products reached 28 states through retailers including Walmart and Jack in the Box, as well as major food service distributors, cases remain concentrated in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and to a lesser extent Kentucky and West Virginia. A false positive test for the parasite was reported, but officials indicated this finding does not alter their assessment of the outbreak’s origin.
Meanwhile, political pressure against abortion medication continues to intensify. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently committed during a hearing to preventing the mailing of abortion drugs. Senator Josh Hawley subsequently referred the nonprofit Plan C and manufacturer Danco Laboratories to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation, characterizing their collaboration as a coordinated effort to violate state law. The FDA is proceeding with a safety study of mifepristone, one of two medications typically used in medication abortions, following requests from antiabortion activists despite the drug’s decades of FDA approval and established safety record.
Public sentiment on abortion remains stable, with polling indicating most Americans support legal abortion in most circumstances. This backdrop sets the stage for ballot questions on abortion in four states later this year that will provide real-world data on voter preferences regarding reproductive rights.