Free Republic

The former president of Taylor Farms’ Tennessee division has been accused of stealing $32 million from the company through multiple schemes that included funneling money to a sham company and keeping his wife and other family members on the payroll. Taylor Farms, the major U.S. produce supplier at the center of a lettuce recall and diarrheal illness outbreak, made the allegations in a federal lawsuit filed in Tennessee. According to the lawsuit, Brian Thure served as president of Taylor Farms Tennessee from 2012 through March of this year. In the roughly 14 years he was head of the Tennessee division,...

The 'explosive diarrhea parasite' cyclosporiasis is running rampant across the US, with thousands of additional cases pushing the outbreak to a record high. Some 4,173 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported across 41 states, the CDC confirmed on Tuesday. However, officials warn the true toll could stretch past 11,000, as more than 7,400 additional reports are still awaiting laboratory confirmation and investigation. Many of the newly reported cases have come from Michigan and Ohio, and local health departments are reporting more than 7,000 in those states alone. At least 308 people have been hospitalized. Despite the spike in cases, Health and...

A new report says health officials are investigating Taco Bell as a potential part of the cyclosporiasis outbreak that’s sickened thousands of people across the U.S., with many suffering from extreme diarrhea. The Washington Post cites two anonymous sources close to the investigation, which is said to involve both federal and state health officials. Taco Bell has reportedly removed lettuce, cilantro, pico de gallo and guacamole from its menu in some areas as a precaution. Michigan’s health department has pointed to lettuce or other salad greens as a potential source of the outbreak, but said some people infected with the...

Fresh produce giant Taylor Farms is preparing to recall ingredients linked to a parasite outbreak that has caused severe diarrhea and sickened thousands of people in Michigan and nearby states, according to a report. The California-based lettuce supplier told federal regulators that it was preparing a recall tied to the widening cyclospora outbreak, Bloomberg News reported Friday, citing a document viewed by the outlet. The parasite can cause severe diarrhea, fatigue and nausea. The scope of the recall was not immediately clear. The move would mark the clearest sign yet of a potential source of the outbreak, which prompted Taco...

A massive fire at the Taylor Farms Processing Facility in Salinas that began late Wednesday night and prompted evacuations continued to smolder into Thursday afternoon. The Salinas Fire Department says that 85 to 90 percent of the 225,000 square foot building is a total loss. Taylor Farms is a major agriculture company that brings many of the salad kits seen in grocery stores and is a major employer. Most of the surrounding area is made up of other businesses, which were evacuated. Residential areas downwind of the fire were told to shelter in place and schools canceled classes because of...