The Mexican lettuce farm linked to a recent outbreak of the parasite Cyclospora is back in business.
Infected lettuce was served at Olive Gardens and Red Lobsters in two states, both owned by parent company Darden Restaurants, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Darden said it will not continue serving Taylor Farms de Mexico produce until they have received more information about the incident from the FDA. The company still purchases fresh food items from domestic Taylor Farms.
The farm resumed shipments of its products to the U.S. this week after voluntarily shutting down operation after the infection was revealed.
Upon investigation, FDA officials determined Taylor farms was working " in accordance with known food safety protocols," the Orlando Sentinel reported.
The most recent case of Cylospora was reported on July 2.
The outbreak affected 600 people in 22 states.
"Although the investigation of cases continues, available evidence suggests that not all of the cases ... in the various states are directly related to each other," the CDC said on its website, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
"Cyclospora is spread by people ingesting something - such as food or water - that was contaminated with feces (stool). Cyclospora needs time (days to weeks) after being passed in a bowel movement to become infectious for another person. Therefore, it is unlikely that Cyclospora is passed directly from one person to another," the CDC stated.
Symptoms of infection include nausea, stomach pain, watery diarrhea, weight loss, decreased appetite, gas, and fatigue.
A course of two antibiotics are usually prescribed to treat the infection, there are no other treatments known.
Donna Heller, a 54-year-old Texas teacher, was infected with the parasite that swept the country this summer, ABC News reported.
"I had to wait three weeks to find out what was wrong," she said. "It was very frustrating. I found myself in tears a lot of the time," Heller told ABC.
"I would feel like I was getting better, and it would come back," Heller said. "You eat, and you're right back where you started."
