Outbreak tied to Olive Garden, Red Lobster salads

Federal health officials are apparently zeroing in on the source of some of the cyclospora infections that have sickened more than 400 people in 16 states, including Missouri. A third case in the western part of the state was also announced Friday.

The Food and Drug Administration says the outbreak of stomach illnesses in Iowa and Nebraska is linked to salad mix served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants in those states. The salad mix was supplied by a Mexican farm.

Both Olive Garden and Red Lobster are owned by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants. A Darden spokesman said the FDA’s announcement is “new information” and that there have been no previous problems with the supplier Taylor Farms de Mexico. It’s the Mexican branch of Taylor Farms of Salinas, Calif.

The FDA says its’ investigation has not implicated any package salad sold in grocery stores. It’s also not clear if there is a connection to illnesses in 14 other states.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said on Friday the latest report of the stomach bug came from a health provider in the Kansas City metro area. The others were reported earlier this week from Jackson County and Taney County.