Taylor Farms CEO pressed by lawmaker over cyclospora outbreak

Core Impact Points

• The cyclospora outbreak has sickened thousands of people in dozens of states, with Taylor Farms recalling its iceberg lettuce after the FDA linked the illnesses to the company's produce.
• Lawmakers are demanding answers from Taylor Farms about its role in the outbreak, including whether the company used its ties to the White House to influence the federal response.
• The FDA has faced criticism for its handling of the investigation, including announcing a positive test result for cyclospora only to later retract it, citing a false positive.
• Taylor Farms has contributed millions of dollars to President Trump's super PAC and other Republican political action committees, raising questions about the company's influence on the federal response.
• The cyclospora outbreak has eroded public confidence in food safety, with lawmakers calling for greater transparency and accountability from the FDA and food companies.
• The FDA's investigation into the outbreak is ongoing, with the agency conducting multiple rounds of testing to determine the source of the contamination.