President Donald Trump said Friday he is considering imposing tariffs on lettuce imported from Mexico as federal health officials continue investigating a nationwide outbreak of cyclosporiasis that has sickened thousands of people across the U.S.
Speaking during a White House press briefing, Trump suggested tariffs could be used in response to the outbreak, which health officials have linked to shredded iceberg lettuce distributed from Mexico.
“I think what we are going to do is put a major tariff on Mexico because of the lettuce,” Trump said.
Federal health officials are investigating an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 11,000 suspected or confirmed cases have been reported across 41 states this year.
The CDC has confirmed approximately 4,100 infections and is investigating another 7,400 suspected cases. Officials have also reported 308 hospitalizations, though no deaths have been announced.
Health authorities are investigating whether shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms’ facility in central Mexico served as the source of the primary outbreak. The lettuce was distributed to Taco Bell restaurants in several states.
According to reports, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia were initially identified as states affected by the investigation. Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania have since been added as officials continue tracing the distribution of potentially contaminated products.
Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled affected lettuce products and temporarily closed its central Mexico processing facility while conducting a review of its food safety procedures.
The company said it has commissioned independent experts to examine operations at the facility and is continuing to cooperate with public health authorities and customers during the investigation.
Taco Bell has removed the affected lettuce from its supply chain.
“Taco Bell has taken precautionary action, and we encourage all relevant restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators to do the same,” the company said in a previous statement.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said earlier this week that the primary outbreak was “under control.”
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday that it is investigating a separate Cyclospora outbreak involving 72 illnesses. The agency has not identified the source of that cluster or disclosed where the cases have occurred.
Cyclosporiasis is contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite, which is commonly spread through human fecal contamination. Symptoms can include watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea, fatigue and fever. According to health officials, symptoms may improve before returning, and illness can persist for weeks without treatment, per the Daily Mail.
Public health officials are advising consumers to wash fresh produce thoroughly before eating or preparing it. Because washing may not completely remove the parasite, experts also recommend cooking food to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the organism.
The CDC says person-to-person transmission is unlikely because the parasite requires one to two weeks outside the body before becoming infectious.
Trump also renewed his criticism of Canada during Friday’s remarks, reiterating previous threats to impose tariffs related to smoke from Canadian wildfires that has affected air quality across portions of the U.S.
