The Mexican facility linked to the stomach bug outbreak, which affected over 300 people in Iowa and Nebraska, has voluntarily suspended production of salad mix, according to the Huffington Post.
Taylor Farms de Mexico announced Monday, that their Mexican branch would not resume production and shipping of any salad mix, as well as, lettuce and other salad mix components without approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The California company said production stopped on Friday and has been shifted to processing facilities in the United States.
"The action of Taylor Farms de Mexico exemplifies the company's cooperation with federal and state officials throughout this ongoing, complicated investigation," the FDA said in a statement on its website.
According to the Huffington Post, the suspension is expected to last several weeks. The time gives Taylor Farms the opportunity to work with federal authorities, during their investigation into cyclospora outbreak.
Cyclospora is a rare parasite spread by feces in contaminated food or water. It can cause lingering diarrhea and other flu-like symptoms and can be treated with common antibiotics.
The outbreak has sickened more than 500 people in 18 states. According to CBS News, the Health Department reported illnesses in Texas, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Ohio. Louisiana was recently added to the list.
According to the company's website, Taylor Farms has 11 processing plants in the United States and one in San Miguel, Mexico. According to previous reports, health officials in Iowa and Nebraska zeroed in on a particular pre-packaged salad mix. The production halt goes beyond the implicated salad mix and includes products such as iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red cabbage, green cabbage and carrots.
Taylor Farms has said its Mexico facility has an extensive water testing program.
"We continue to be very confident in our Mexico operation throughout our own review of our existing, and recently further enhanced, food safety procedures, systems and critical control points," the company said in a statement posted on its website.
According to the Huffington Post, facilities in California, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and Maryland will take over the salad mix production.
