What to know about Taylor Farms, the produce giant tied to the cyclospora outbreak

Produce giant Taylor Farms is under renewed scrutiny after it iceberg lettuce linked to the nation's unusually large cyclosporiasis outbreak. Food safety experts say that while recalls are inevitable for a produce supplier the size of Taylor Farms, the current outbreak is unusual because of its scale and the number of people sickened. More than 5,000 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported, far exceeding the typical annual level of roughly 200 to 1,000 cases.

Because cyclospora infections can cause severe diarrhea lasting days or even weeks, some consumers are avoiding leafy greens and other fresh produce commonly associated with the parasite while investigators search for the source. "Nothing about this outbreak is typical," Jennifer McEntire, founder of food safety consulting firm Food Safety Strategy, told one outlet.