July 21, 2026
Cyclo-Mania: What And Who To Believe Amid Worst Outbreak In U.S. History
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RSS Feed There is a war of words publicly flying between federal agencies and the company in the middle of the cyclospora outbreak. False positives, false apologies, and now word that there are financial ties between Taylor Farms and the White House. Caught in the middle of the mess, the American people who are desperate to know what’s safe to eat right now.
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00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey, folks, it is Tuesday, July twenty first, and while you are trying to decide what lettuce you should or shouldn't eat, the FDA, the CDC, and Taylor Farms are now in the center of a public spat over who's to blame for this current cyclospora outbreaking with that, Welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Robes. I used to trust the CDC, I used to trust the FDA. They say it, and I trust it, Robes, I don't care what they say right now, I gotta go get seventeen other sources to confirm that what I'm hearing from these agencies is the truth. We have a public mess that is once again eroding public trust.
00:00:44
Speaker 2: Yes, when you have grown adults who are in high profile, high paying positions of authority and seeming credibility, you don't want to see them saying nah, ah did not did too, you did, I didn't.
00:01:00
Speaker 3: This is what's happening.
00:01:01
Speaker 2: It was a verbatim by the way people right finger pointing, and I never said that this is awful, this is terrible.
00:01:09
Speaker 3: We already have a.
00:01:10
Speaker 2: Difficult time knowing what to think or believe when we've had major public health crises, which we've had a plenty, but this latest one with the cyclospora outbreak. Thankfully, no one's dying, no one's life is on the line, but certainly people's quality of life is on the line.
00:01:27
Speaker 3: And that's of note.
00:01:29
Speaker 1: He was mentioned the trust thing. I remember the back and forth with the vaccines. Remember that around COVID we didn't know what to believe and who to believe and what to trust, and there was This is where we are again. I know it's not maybe we're not taking it the same type of seriously, Robes, A lot of people are with what's going on with our federal, our government agencies because nobody's dying, but roabes, this is awful. And where we are right now, folks, the cyclospora, and we saw it again over the weekend. First of all, Robes is that the numbers are once again going up and spiking, and in particular in Michigan, which I'm sorry miss again y'all are the epicenter of explosive diarrhea right now. That's the truth.
00:02:03
Speaker 2: That's tough, that's a tough thing to be known for, but right now, that is where Michigan is at this point. And yes, as you mentioned the numbers rising. We're well over six thousand documented cases in that state alone, a state that typically sees forty to fifty cases a year. That is incredible, that's crazy to think.
00:02:23
Speaker 1: So where we are why we want to hop on is because, yes, we heard the news. We've been talking about it. Yesterday Robes, there was a false positive. The FDA came out and said there was a false positive test at Taylor Farms. Taylor Farms comes out and says, hey, the FDA has apologized to us. What was the first line the way they even.
00:02:43
Speaker 3: To today, FDA apologized.
00:02:46
Speaker 1: That was the statement. That's how they started their statement yesterday Robes And obviously that sends a signal to the country that, oh so Taylor Farms wasn't at the center of this, absolutely guessing we're all good. The FDA has now come out, according to several people who were on the call they did with reporters yesterday Robes and says, no, we didn't apologize to Taylor Farms. The Robes they also said it this way, we didn't offer an official apology. Does that mean anything to you? Does it? Is there a difference?
00:03:20
Speaker 2: Okay, there we go exactly the confusion, and that's frustrating to me. You know, go ahead and just say it could have been they said, sorry, guys, we didn't mean to you know, point the finger at you, but we aren't. I don't know whereas did they say, we officially apologize to you. Kamma, Taylor Farms, Kamma, Like I don't know where the truth lies. And to put out a statement, first of all, I think it's irresponsible or which.
00:03:46
Speaker 3: For both both parties.
00:03:49
Speaker 2: Both parties are being irresponsible because in order to try and get ahead of it or get ahead of pr basically they're throwing things out to the public and then having to take them back, then having to clarify. Wait until you know exactly what the truth is and then speak it plainly or write it plainly. Don't in a rush to get ahead of the other guy, say something and then have to take it back or clarify it or deny it. This is really juvenile behavior and it makes the very little trust that we may have had in these agencies completely evaporate.
00:04:27
Speaker 1: And add to this, now that we're going to get into which is also making headlines and will continue to make the round, certainly in the coming days, Robes, a White House meeting between Taylor Farms executives and officials in the administration, and a bunch of stuff happened after that meeting. We'll get into that. And also there was a major donation, yes, from Taylor Farms to a particular political party that you could probably guess that people are connecting. But let's go through here with the timeline that lands us where we are, Robes, and this is a mess. So Friday, the CDC identified tip Bell restaurants in five states that we think this is where it's coming from. Don't eat lettuce from these Taco Bell restaurants in five states. Also on Friday, Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall of all of its iceberg lettuce in twenty seven states. They did this, they say, based on information given to them from the FDA. Then on the next day, Robes Saturday, FDA announces they've got a positive test at Taylor Farms at their Mexico plant. Then on Sunday, the FDA said, oh, sorry about that. That positive test we announced yesterday was actually a false positive test. And then by Monday, July twentieth, Taylor Farms was putting out a statement saying the FDA apologized to them later the day Monday, Yesterday, FDA says, no, we didn't apologize, but we still think the lettuce from Taylor Farms is the culprit Robes. That is what Taylor Farms and I'd have to say, Robes, things happen in food safety. We know this, We've covered this, Your dad spend so whole life on this thing. These things do happen. Fine, the more irresponsible thing, Robes feels like to put out a statement saying the FDA apologized, they knew that was misleading, Robes. They that was an intentional move to mislead the public, and that is a safety issue. Robes. That is that's the problem. That's the biggest issue I have in all of this. Yes, they knew what they were doing when they put that out, They know was a pr move.
00:06:31
Speaker 2: They led with the apology, and then to be even more clear, they then said today we were informed the FDA made a mistake. So they also went further by throwing the FDA under the bus, and then in bold added to be clear, at this moment, the FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for cyclospora.
00:06:58
Speaker 3: That is true, clearly yes, that.
00:07:00
Speaker 2: Is true, but clearly distancing themselves from the outbreak and making it seem as though the FDA made a mistake in identifying their company at all, which the FDA then had to go back and clarify and say, no, we didn't make a mistake in identifying this farm, because we still believe Taylor Farms, specifically the farm in Mexico is most likely responsible for this outbreak.
00:07:26
Speaker 1: But Robes that look, I understand the pr of it, but your pr is putting people at further risk. You're giving an impression to the country that it's all good. Now go pick up our lift. I think most people won't anyway, but you're giving an impression that it's all good and it's all safe, you got nothing to worry about. Ropes. That was a I found that to be irresponsible from a safety standpoint to put that out look Taylor. I don't know how much of their stuff we eat. That turned me off, well, Psyclospora turned me off fine, But this really off.
00:08:00
Speaker 2: Look, and it is eroding public trust, not just in government agencies, but also in this particular food company, in this producer and one of the largest fresh food producers in this country. I don't know that many people necessarily knew their name, but they've certainly consumed their products, and now we all know their name. And from what I've seen online, most people are reacting exactly the same way you are, and we are about their desire to try and turn things around or change the pr on this what we want to see as consumers. I think what everyone wants to see is an acceptance of responsibility, accountability and ways to change, ways to make sure this is lessened. We all know that when you eat food there is always an inherent risk. It's impossible to make sure that this will never happen again, but you still and I think people get that. People understand that, but you still want to see a company like this take responsibility and let folks know what they're doing to improve conditions, to make sure or to limit this ever happening again.
00:09:09
Speaker 1: I would take them quiet over misleading. If they didn't say anything, I'd feel better if they bold face looked at us and said it's all good. They knew good and hell well that the FDA was still tracing this stuff back to them. And folks, please know that even without the positive tests, these scientists, these health folks are doing. They know how to trace this back. They're asking questions. It didn't come out of nowhere. They were looking, Yeah, why were they looking at the farm in the first place? How did they even know to test something there? Because it traced back to that farm. So they still believe in great confidence that they have the right spot. Now, the FDA the explanation ropes. I thought it was funny how they explained the why there was a false positive, And it was one of these things that sound like, you know, this stuff is hard, guys.
00:09:57
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's complex, right, That's what they keep say.
00:10:00
Speaker 2: But they say and look, I feel like anytime anyone, whether it's a government agency or a private firm, has to bold.
00:10:07
Speaker 3: Face things or put things in all caps.
00:10:10
Speaker 2: I don't know if this is like because of President Trump's truth social posts, but I'm starting to see this more and more to try and emphasize or to correct what misinformation is out there. But yes, the FDA put out to clarify this false positive lab sample and then in all caps does not change the basis for FDA's ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms, and so they went on to say over the weekend, FDA alerted Taylor Farms that a new sample of shredded lettuce from Taylor Farms of Mexico tested positive recyclospora during import examination, but this ended up being a false positive. Taylor Farms was alerted to the corrective test results Sunday. This is the big important part, though, they say, FDA's trace back investigation and outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico. FDA will continue to work with federal and state partners to investigate this multi state outbreak and ensure products implicated in this outbreak have been removed from the market.
00:11:19
Speaker 3: Although I saw.
00:11:20
Speaker 2: News reports even as late as yesterday saying they were going through stores and finding the product on the shelves, So that's not shocking, but it was. I mean I saw the video evidence people going, look, this is exactly what's supposedly been voluntarily recalled. I mean, you and I read the grocery store yesterday. I picked up ahead of iceberg lettusons that want some. I mean, they were all there for the take and not a person had it in their bag.
00:11:50
Speaker 3: I didn't even look.
00:11:51
Speaker 1: I was curious.
00:11:52
Speaker 3: No, I didn't even look.
00:11:53
Speaker 1: I saw you had a bag of lettuce, and yet what was that romain? Romain?
00:11:57
Speaker 2: I still I know you won't, but I'm I'm I need lettuce. I just I peel off the outer layers and I wash it thoroughly.
00:12:03
Speaker 1: And that's what people are doing. And I understand, and generally speaking, most of us, I'm not probably at risk. I ain't rolling those dice right now.
00:12:10
Speaker 3: I'm not eating iceberg lettuce. I can tell you that I'm not.
00:12:12
Speaker 1: Rolling those dice. And and look here, robes, this is we have. Is there any warning I'm trying to think I've said, I'm about to say, snow peas, raspberries, all this stuff has anything else? Is there anything else we're being told to look out?
00:12:31
Speaker 2: No, we've just been told that the types of foods or produce that Cyclostporo has spora has been found in recent or in other outbreaks. It's the other culprits are raspberries, basil, snow peas, leafy greens, that kind of thing.
00:12:49
Speaker 1: There's no reason in this one. Nothing like that has been out of it.
00:12:53
Speaker 2: It hasn't been but they have actually been noted, and certainly scientists have said, hey, we don't know the source of perhaps some of these other outbreaks, and so out of an abundance of caution, they have listed those other produce items to be aware of and potentially to avoid if you feel uncomfortable.
00:13:12
Speaker 1: All right, they're at least five. I didn't realize this rope. They've had five cycle spare outbreaks this year. I think they've sourced two or three, I think three of them. So the last two one, of course, the one we're going through. The other one is the one they're talking about rogues. We's mentioned this morning. Folks were eating stuff, got sick while traveling. They weren't even in the United States, right, and they got hundreds of people who are not connected to Taco bell or what is.
00:13:36
Speaker 2: And it is possible just want this to go out there that they will never know the source of. They've said that that they may never know. This isn't one of those types of outbreaks and cyclo sporre to be specific, it's actually known to be a very complex and difficult to back what the FDA is saying way to source. It's hard for them to know, just because it takes so long for folks to get sick that it's very difficult to actually pinpoint the source of a cyclospora outbreak.
00:14:04
Speaker 1: All right, well stay here, folks, there's more to the story, and it goes through the White House, a million dollar donation and a former White House official who is now representing Taylor Farm.
00:14:27
Speaker 2: Welcome back, everyone to this episode of Amy and TJ. And look, this is where things go from bad to maybe even really bad when you start to follow. Everyone says, follow the money, right, follow the money. Look, there's a lot of money at stake. This company is losing. I don't even know how much money just initially from the recall, but then for the aftermath the pr do people want to purchase and buy Taylor Farm's produce going forward? This is a big deal with millions perhaps billions at stay and so yes, lobbying is a big part of all of this.
00:15:03
Speaker 1: Companies be hurting, wouldn't a bunch because I'm just not buying lettuce? Like, aren't a lot of companies probably being hurt?
00:15:11
Speaker 2: I would imagine fresh produces taking a hit all over the country, and farmers are going to feel the impact, which is going to affect it's going to have ripple effects throughout this economy here in the United States, and certainly I would think I would imagine farms and growers in Mexico as well specifically. But it should be no surprise that these companies, Yes, they lobby our government. They're always working for probably looser regulations and whatever is going to benefit them financially. But this is a this is a little bit suspect, and people started, this started trickling out online and now people are full blown writing articles about the connection between Taylor Farms executives and our current administration. Uh.
00:15:55
Speaker 1: Yes, so we talked about that White House meeting right already, that happened on last Thursday evening. Next thing, you know, they get what some are calling a reprieve of sorts with this false positive. All of a sudden, ooh, this is the false positive now and all good with Taylor Farms and Robes. They have tracked down now that Taylor Farms, according to several news outlets Now and Record Show, made a one million dollar donation to an organization that supports President Trump. I believe it was called Maga Inc. Yeah, but a million dollar donation that was last year in twenty twenty five. They've also pointed out that the founder, Bruce what was his name, Bruce Taylor, should get his name right. Bruce Taylor played for the foot ballplayer what was the guys?
00:16:42
Speaker 3: I don't know the guy's name.
00:16:43
Speaker 1: I don't know, Okay, Well, the CEO of Taylor Farms. They've tracked down hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations. He is all also made to Republican groups. Now, what is that supposed to me?
00:16:52
Speaker 3: Go ahead, well, I was gonna say.
00:16:53
Speaker 2: The other thing that's been noted is that million dollar donation to the Trump Super Pack MAGA Inc. That donation took place on March twenty sixth, twenty twenty five, and everyone is pointed to the fact that that was just six days after the FDA announced it was pushing back the implementation of its food Traceability rule.
00:17:15
Speaker 3: By nearly three years.
00:17:17
Speaker 2: Now. That rule was supposed to go into effect this year January of this year. And get this, given all we're dealing with right now, that rule would have established traceability record keeping requirements beyond what's already in existence for people who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods.
00:17:36
Speaker 3: So that would be Taylor Farms.
00:17:38
Speaker 2: So it was going to add extra record keeping requirements for companies like Taylor Farms in the situation of an outbreak, so that they would have better traceability records.
00:17:51
Speaker 3: So this donation is made after.
00:17:53
Speaker 2: They pushed back or they put a pause on these new rules that were going to affect this company.
00:17:59
Speaker 3: That is a little bit of up.
00:18:01
Speaker 1: It's just a coincidence.
00:18:02
Speaker 3: It's yeah, I'm sure the timing was not at all.
00:18:06
Speaker 1: I don't want to cast displursions here, right, We don't want to blame them for anything and say anything was untoward. But this is why transparency is important, because things do look bad, and there are too many people out there online with the phones in the hand and can type them and spread something if you don't come out and tell us what's going on. So, yes, a million dollar donation last year, plus hundreds of thousands of donations to this and now you get a White House meeting and now this positive test now comes out in your favor. Well, there's just all stinks. And to add to that, they are now being represented, according at least to The New York Times, by someone Robes, who has pretty damn good access to people in that White House. Of course it's his name. Uh, there's a guy that they have hired to do their lobbying for them. According to the New York Times, his name is Trent Morse. Is not someone maybe necessarily you have ever heard of, but he did have a position of power White House. He was deputy director of the Presidential Personnel Office. Now that might not be something you hear about every day and hear the President talk about, but this person is in control of the hiring of administration officials throughout the administration. Wild's access to damn near robes and knows everybody who came in.
00:19:20
Speaker 3: That's wild.
00:19:20
Speaker 2: And he left the gig in September of twenty twenty five. He started his own lobbying firm, and yes, has now been hired by Taylor Farms. And you raise the question, isn't there supposed to be a year moratorium after you leave an administration before you can then lobby said administration. That would make a lot of sense from an ethical standpoint.
00:19:41
Speaker 1: Damn good sense. And he may be just up against that one year window. Don't know if it will make a difference or not. But they have now hired a guy who has pretty good access to the White House robes. You add throw him in million dollar donation, false positive that came after a White House meeting, all the donations. So yes, people are gonna go wait a minute.
00:20:03
Speaker 2: People don't believe anything they're hearing or reading. And by the way, it was Bruce Taylor. I wanted to I was looking that up for you. Yes, you you almost always you second guess yourself and nine times out of ten you nail it. So yes, the CEO of Taylor Farms is Bruce Taylor.
00:20:18
Speaker 1: But yes, he has been pointing out and digging through all of his donations. So that's all. If the FDA and the Taylor Farms and we apologize and know we didn't and all this, we just don't trust anything. And now all these details are coming out. This is not building up a conspiracy theory. This is just a theory based on the only facts we have. And you all are a little short on giving them to us. And when you do, you take them back and then you fight in public about it. What the hell are we supposed to believe? Yeah, and what the hell we supposed to eat? Right?
00:20:47
Speaker 2: And there's panic all over the country. I mean, look, people are saying Can I eat arugula? Can I eat romaine? Can I eat let us of any variety? Can I eat anything green? I mean, people are are struggling right now, and we literally don't know who to believe.
00:21:03
Speaker 1: Yes, look, I've my stomach hasn't been great, not because I've been eating lettuce, but because I haven't. I'm on a meat diet here lately. I've just been.
00:21:13
Speaker 2: Grilling, like on a carnivore diet. It's true, It is true. Sabina and I have been eating lettuce. I've just been watching it and I've just been like, you know what, I'm just We are at a restaurant yesterday we both ordered salads.
00:21:25
Speaker 3: Who looked at us like we were crazy. I enjoyed the hell out of it. So far, so good.
00:21:30
Speaker 1: Yeah, twenty four two day incubacy.
00:21:32
Speaker 2: I mean, you should just go ahead and join us, because if it's going to happen to one of us, it might as well happen to all of us.
00:21:37
Speaker 1: Oh, that is a really selfish way to look and pain within a family. Anyway. Look, I hope you can laugh and smile a little bit, but this is unfortunate what we're seeing, and we are still going through it, and yes, just because people aren't dying doesn't mean, like you said, your dad's lying.
00:21:52
Speaker 2: Yeah, they want to die. They want to die. That's how miserable this outbreak is. If you are unfortunate enough to yes, said contaminated let us. But we will stay on top of this writ to sort through all the bs and back and forth.
00:22:06
Speaker 3: But we always appreciate you listening to us. I'm Amy Roblock alongside TJ. Holmes. We'll talk soon.
Speaker 1: Hey, folks, it is Tuesday, July twenty first, and while you are trying to decide what lettuce you should or shouldn't eat, the FDA, the CDC, and Taylor Farms are now in the center of a public spat over who's to blame for this current cyclospora outbreaking with that, Welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Robes. I used to trust the CDC, I used to trust the FDA. They say it, and I trust it, Robes, I don't care what they say right now, I gotta go get seventeen other sources to confirm that what I'm hearing from these agencies is the truth. We have a public mess that is once again eroding public trust.
00:00:44
Speaker 2: Yes, when you have grown adults who are in high profile, high paying positions of authority and seeming credibility, you don't want to see them saying nah, ah did not did too, you did, I didn't.
00:01:00
Speaker 3: This is what's happening.
00:01:01
Speaker 2: It was a verbatim by the way people right finger pointing, and I never said that this is awful, this is terrible.
00:01:09
Speaker 3: We already have a.
00:01:10
Speaker 2: Difficult time knowing what to think or believe when we've had major public health crises, which we've had a plenty, but this latest one with the cyclospora outbreak. Thankfully, no one's dying, no one's life is on the line, but certainly people's quality of life is on the line.
00:01:27
Speaker 3: And that's of note.
00:01:29
Speaker 1: He was mentioned the trust thing. I remember the back and forth with the vaccines. Remember that around COVID we didn't know what to believe and who to believe and what to trust, and there was This is where we are again. I know it's not maybe we're not taking it the same type of seriously, Robes, A lot of people are with what's going on with our federal, our government agencies because nobody's dying, but roabes, this is awful. And where we are right now, folks, the cyclospora, and we saw it again over the weekend. First of all, Robes is that the numbers are once again going up and spiking, and in particular in Michigan, which I'm sorry miss again y'all are the epicenter of explosive diarrhea right now. That's the truth.
00:02:03
Speaker 2: That's tough, that's a tough thing to be known for, but right now, that is where Michigan is at this point. And yes, as you mentioned the numbers rising. We're well over six thousand documented cases in that state alone, a state that typically sees forty to fifty cases a year. That is incredible, that's crazy to think.
00:02:23
Speaker 1: So where we are why we want to hop on is because, yes, we heard the news. We've been talking about it. Yesterday Robes, there was a false positive. The FDA came out and said there was a false positive test at Taylor Farms. Taylor Farms comes out and says, hey, the FDA has apologized to us. What was the first line the way they even.
00:02:43
Speaker 3: To today, FDA apologized.
00:02:46
Speaker 1: That was the statement. That's how they started their statement yesterday Robes And obviously that sends a signal to the country that, oh so Taylor Farms wasn't at the center of this, absolutely guessing we're all good. The FDA has now come out, according to several people who were on the call they did with reporters yesterday Robes and says, no, we didn't apologize to Taylor Farms. The Robes they also said it this way, we didn't offer an official apology. Does that mean anything to you? Does it? Is there a difference?
00:03:20
Speaker 2: Okay, there we go exactly the confusion, and that's frustrating to me. You know, go ahead and just say it could have been they said, sorry, guys, we didn't mean to you know, point the finger at you, but we aren't. I don't know whereas did they say, we officially apologize to you. Kamma, Taylor Farms, Kamma, Like I don't know where the truth lies. And to put out a statement, first of all, I think it's irresponsible or which.
00:03:46
Speaker 3: For both both parties.
00:03:49
Speaker 2: Both parties are being irresponsible because in order to try and get ahead of it or get ahead of pr basically they're throwing things out to the public and then having to take them back, then having to clarify. Wait until you know exactly what the truth is and then speak it plainly or write it plainly. Don't in a rush to get ahead of the other guy, say something and then have to take it back or clarify it or deny it. This is really juvenile behavior and it makes the very little trust that we may have had in these agencies completely evaporate.
00:04:27
Speaker 1: And add to this, now that we're going to get into which is also making headlines and will continue to make the round, certainly in the coming days, Robes, a White House meeting between Taylor Farms executives and officials in the administration, and a bunch of stuff happened after that meeting. We'll get into that. And also there was a major donation, yes, from Taylor Farms to a particular political party that you could probably guess that people are connecting. But let's go through here with the timeline that lands us where we are, Robes, and this is a mess. So Friday, the CDC identified tip Bell restaurants in five states that we think this is where it's coming from. Don't eat lettuce from these Taco Bell restaurants in five states. Also on Friday, Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall of all of its iceberg lettuce in twenty seven states. They did this, they say, based on information given to them from the FDA. Then on the next day, Robes Saturday, FDA announces they've got a positive test at Taylor Farms at their Mexico plant. Then on Sunday, the FDA said, oh, sorry about that. That positive test we announced yesterday was actually a false positive test. And then by Monday, July twentieth, Taylor Farms was putting out a statement saying the FDA apologized to them later the day Monday, Yesterday, FDA says, no, we didn't apologize, but we still think the lettuce from Taylor Farms is the culprit Robes. That is what Taylor Farms and I'd have to say, Robes, things happen in food safety. We know this, We've covered this, Your dad spend so whole life on this thing. These things do happen. Fine, the more irresponsible thing, Robes feels like to put out a statement saying the FDA apologized, they knew that was misleading, Robes. They that was an intentional move to mislead the public, and that is a safety issue. Robes. That is that's the problem. That's the biggest issue I have in all of this. Yes, they knew what they were doing when they put that out, They know was a pr move.
00:06:31
Speaker 2: They led with the apology, and then to be even more clear, they then said today we were informed the FDA made a mistake. So they also went further by throwing the FDA under the bus, and then in bold added to be clear, at this moment, the FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for cyclospora.
00:06:58
Speaker 3: That is true, clearly yes, that.
00:07:00
Speaker 2: Is true, but clearly distancing themselves from the outbreak and making it seem as though the FDA made a mistake in identifying their company at all, which the FDA then had to go back and clarify and say, no, we didn't make a mistake in identifying this farm, because we still believe Taylor Farms, specifically the farm in Mexico is most likely responsible for this outbreak.
00:07:26
Speaker 1: But Robes that look, I understand the pr of it, but your pr is putting people at further risk. You're giving an impression to the country that it's all good. Now go pick up our lift. I think most people won't anyway, but you're giving an impression that it's all good and it's all safe, you got nothing to worry about. Ropes. That was a I found that to be irresponsible from a safety standpoint to put that out look Taylor. I don't know how much of their stuff we eat. That turned me off, well, Psyclospora turned me off fine, But this really off.
00:08:00
Speaker 2: Look, and it is eroding public trust, not just in government agencies, but also in this particular food company, in this producer and one of the largest fresh food producers in this country. I don't know that many people necessarily knew their name, but they've certainly consumed their products, and now we all know their name. And from what I've seen online, most people are reacting exactly the same way you are, and we are about their desire to try and turn things around or change the pr on this what we want to see as consumers. I think what everyone wants to see is an acceptance of responsibility, accountability and ways to change, ways to make sure this is lessened. We all know that when you eat food there is always an inherent risk. It's impossible to make sure that this will never happen again, but you still and I think people get that. People understand that, but you still want to see a company like this take responsibility and let folks know what they're doing to improve conditions, to make sure or to limit this ever happening again.
00:09:09
Speaker 1: I would take them quiet over misleading. If they didn't say anything, I'd feel better if they bold face looked at us and said it's all good. They knew good and hell well that the FDA was still tracing this stuff back to them. And folks, please know that even without the positive tests, these scientists, these health folks are doing. They know how to trace this back. They're asking questions. It didn't come out of nowhere. They were looking, Yeah, why were they looking at the farm in the first place? How did they even know to test something there? Because it traced back to that farm. So they still believe in great confidence that they have the right spot. Now, the FDA the explanation ropes. I thought it was funny how they explained the why there was a false positive, And it was one of these things that sound like, you know, this stuff is hard, guys.
00:09:57
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's complex, right, That's what they keep say.
00:10:00
Speaker 2: But they say and look, I feel like anytime anyone, whether it's a government agency or a private firm, has to bold.
00:10:07
Speaker 3: Face things or put things in all caps.
00:10:10
Speaker 2: I don't know if this is like because of President Trump's truth social posts, but I'm starting to see this more and more to try and emphasize or to correct what misinformation is out there. But yes, the FDA put out to clarify this false positive lab sample and then in all caps does not change the basis for FDA's ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms, and so they went on to say over the weekend, FDA alerted Taylor Farms that a new sample of shredded lettuce from Taylor Farms of Mexico tested positive recyclospora during import examination, but this ended up being a false positive. Taylor Farms was alerted to the corrective test results Sunday. This is the big important part, though, they say, FDA's trace back investigation and outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico. FDA will continue to work with federal and state partners to investigate this multi state outbreak and ensure products implicated in this outbreak have been removed from the market.
00:11:19
Speaker 3: Although I saw.
00:11:20
Speaker 2: News reports even as late as yesterday saying they were going through stores and finding the product on the shelves, So that's not shocking, but it was. I mean I saw the video evidence people going, look, this is exactly what's supposedly been voluntarily recalled. I mean, you and I read the grocery store yesterday. I picked up ahead of iceberg lettusons that want some. I mean, they were all there for the take and not a person had it in their bag.
00:11:50
Speaker 3: I didn't even look.
00:11:51
Speaker 1: I was curious.
00:11:52
Speaker 3: No, I didn't even look.
00:11:53
Speaker 1: I saw you had a bag of lettuce, and yet what was that romain? Romain?
00:11:57
Speaker 2: I still I know you won't, but I'm I'm I need lettuce. I just I peel off the outer layers and I wash it thoroughly.
00:12:03
Speaker 1: And that's what people are doing. And I understand, and generally speaking, most of us, I'm not probably at risk. I ain't rolling those dice right now.
00:12:10
Speaker 3: I'm not eating iceberg lettuce. I can tell you that I'm not.
00:12:12
Speaker 1: Rolling those dice. And and look here, robes, this is we have. Is there any warning I'm trying to think I've said, I'm about to say, snow peas, raspberries, all this stuff has anything else? Is there anything else we're being told to look out?
00:12:31
Speaker 2: No, we've just been told that the types of foods or produce that Cyclostporo has spora has been found in recent or in other outbreaks. It's the other culprits are raspberries, basil, snow peas, leafy greens, that kind of thing.
00:12:49
Speaker 1: There's no reason in this one. Nothing like that has been out of it.
00:12:53
Speaker 2: It hasn't been but they have actually been noted, and certainly scientists have said, hey, we don't know the source of perhaps some of these other outbreaks, and so out of an abundance of caution, they have listed those other produce items to be aware of and potentially to avoid if you feel uncomfortable.
00:13:12
Speaker 1: All right, they're at least five. I didn't realize this rope. They've had five cycle spare outbreaks this year. I think they've sourced two or three, I think three of them. So the last two one, of course, the one we're going through. The other one is the one they're talking about rogues. We's mentioned this morning. Folks were eating stuff, got sick while traveling. They weren't even in the United States, right, and they got hundreds of people who are not connected to Taco bell or what is.
00:13:36
Speaker 2: And it is possible just want this to go out there that they will never know the source of. They've said that that they may never know. This isn't one of those types of outbreaks and cyclo sporre to be specific, it's actually known to be a very complex and difficult to back what the FDA is saying way to source. It's hard for them to know, just because it takes so long for folks to get sick that it's very difficult to actually pinpoint the source of a cyclospora outbreak.
00:14:04
Speaker 1: All right, well stay here, folks, there's more to the story, and it goes through the White House, a million dollar donation and a former White House official who is now representing Taylor Farm.
00:14:27
Speaker 2: Welcome back, everyone to this episode of Amy and TJ. And look, this is where things go from bad to maybe even really bad when you start to follow. Everyone says, follow the money, right, follow the money. Look, there's a lot of money at stake. This company is losing. I don't even know how much money just initially from the recall, but then for the aftermath the pr do people want to purchase and buy Taylor Farm's produce going forward? This is a big deal with millions perhaps billions at stay and so yes, lobbying is a big part of all of this.
00:15:03
Speaker 1: Companies be hurting, wouldn't a bunch because I'm just not buying lettuce? Like, aren't a lot of companies probably being hurt?
00:15:11
Speaker 2: I would imagine fresh produces taking a hit all over the country, and farmers are going to feel the impact, which is going to affect it's going to have ripple effects throughout this economy here in the United States, and certainly I would think I would imagine farms and growers in Mexico as well specifically. But it should be no surprise that these companies, Yes, they lobby our government. They're always working for probably looser regulations and whatever is going to benefit them financially. But this is a this is a little bit suspect, and people started, this started trickling out online and now people are full blown writing articles about the connection between Taylor Farms executives and our current administration. Uh.
00:15:55
Speaker 1: Yes, so we talked about that White House meeting right already, that happened on last Thursday evening. Next thing, you know, they get what some are calling a reprieve of sorts with this false positive. All of a sudden, ooh, this is the false positive now and all good with Taylor Farms and Robes. They have tracked down now that Taylor Farms, according to several news outlets Now and Record Show, made a one million dollar donation to an organization that supports President Trump. I believe it was called Maga Inc. Yeah, but a million dollar donation that was last year in twenty twenty five. They've also pointed out that the founder, Bruce what was his name, Bruce Taylor, should get his name right. Bruce Taylor played for the foot ballplayer what was the guys?
00:16:42
Speaker 3: I don't know the guy's name.
00:16:43
Speaker 1: I don't know, Okay, Well, the CEO of Taylor Farms. They've tracked down hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations. He is all also made to Republican groups. Now, what is that supposed to me?
00:16:52
Speaker 3: Go ahead, well, I was gonna say.
00:16:53
Speaker 2: The other thing that's been noted is that million dollar donation to the Trump Super Pack MAGA Inc. That donation took place on March twenty sixth, twenty twenty five, and everyone is pointed to the fact that that was just six days after the FDA announced it was pushing back the implementation of its food Traceability rule.
00:17:15
Speaker 3: By nearly three years.
00:17:17
Speaker 2: Now. That rule was supposed to go into effect this year January of this year. And get this, given all we're dealing with right now, that rule would have established traceability record keeping requirements beyond what's already in existence for people who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods.
00:17:36
Speaker 3: So that would be Taylor Farms.
00:17:38
Speaker 2: So it was going to add extra record keeping requirements for companies like Taylor Farms in the situation of an outbreak, so that they would have better traceability records.
00:17:51
Speaker 3: So this donation is made after.
00:17:53
Speaker 2: They pushed back or they put a pause on these new rules that were going to affect this company.
00:17:59
Speaker 3: That is a little bit of up.
00:18:01
Speaker 1: It's just a coincidence.
00:18:02
Speaker 3: It's yeah, I'm sure the timing was not at all.
00:18:06
Speaker 1: I don't want to cast displursions here, right, We don't want to blame them for anything and say anything was untoward. But this is why transparency is important, because things do look bad, and there are too many people out there online with the phones in the hand and can type them and spread something if you don't come out and tell us what's going on. So, yes, a million dollar donation last year, plus hundreds of thousands of donations to this and now you get a White House meeting and now this positive test now comes out in your favor. Well, there's just all stinks. And to add to that, they are now being represented, according at least to The New York Times, by someone Robes, who has pretty damn good access to people in that White House. Of course it's his name. Uh, there's a guy that they have hired to do their lobbying for them. According to the New York Times, his name is Trent Morse. Is not someone maybe necessarily you have ever heard of, but he did have a position of power White House. He was deputy director of the Presidential Personnel Office. Now that might not be something you hear about every day and hear the President talk about, but this person is in control of the hiring of administration officials throughout the administration. Wild's access to damn near robes and knows everybody who came in.
00:19:20
Speaker 3: That's wild.
00:19:20
Speaker 2: And he left the gig in September of twenty twenty five. He started his own lobbying firm, and yes, has now been hired by Taylor Farms. And you raise the question, isn't there supposed to be a year moratorium after you leave an administration before you can then lobby said administration. That would make a lot of sense from an ethical standpoint.
00:19:41
Speaker 1: Damn good sense. And he may be just up against that one year window. Don't know if it will make a difference or not. But they have now hired a guy who has pretty good access to the White House robes. You add throw him in million dollar donation, false positive that came after a White House meeting, all the donations. So yes, people are gonna go wait a minute.
00:20:03
Speaker 2: People don't believe anything they're hearing or reading. And by the way, it was Bruce Taylor. I wanted to I was looking that up for you. Yes, you you almost always you second guess yourself and nine times out of ten you nail it. So yes, the CEO of Taylor Farms is Bruce Taylor.
00:20:18
Speaker 1: But yes, he has been pointing out and digging through all of his donations. So that's all. If the FDA and the Taylor Farms and we apologize and know we didn't and all this, we just don't trust anything. And now all these details are coming out. This is not building up a conspiracy theory. This is just a theory based on the only facts we have. And you all are a little short on giving them to us. And when you do, you take them back and then you fight in public about it. What the hell are we supposed to believe? Yeah, and what the hell we supposed to eat? Right?
00:20:47
Speaker 2: And there's panic all over the country. I mean, look, people are saying Can I eat arugula? Can I eat romaine? Can I eat let us of any variety? Can I eat anything green? I mean, people are are struggling right now, and we literally don't know who to believe.
00:21:03
Speaker 1: Yes, look, I've my stomach hasn't been great, not because I've been eating lettuce, but because I haven't. I'm on a meat diet here lately. I've just been.
00:21:13
Speaker 2: Grilling, like on a carnivore diet. It's true, It is true. Sabina and I have been eating lettuce. I've just been watching it and I've just been like, you know what, I'm just We are at a restaurant yesterday we both ordered salads.
00:21:25
Speaker 3: Who looked at us like we were crazy. I enjoyed the hell out of it. So far, so good.
00:21:30
Speaker 1: Yeah, twenty four two day incubacy.
00:21:32
Speaker 2: I mean, you should just go ahead and join us, because if it's going to happen to one of us, it might as well happen to all of us.
00:21:37
Speaker 1: Oh, that is a really selfish way to look and pain within a family. Anyway. Look, I hope you can laugh and smile a little bit, but this is unfortunate what we're seeing, and we are still going through it, and yes, just because people aren't dying doesn't mean, like you said, your dad's lying.
00:21:52
Speaker 2: Yeah, they want to die. They want to die. That's how miserable this outbreak is. If you are unfortunate enough to yes, said contaminated let us. But we will stay on top of this writ to sort through all the bs and back and forth.
00:22:06
Speaker 3: But we always appreciate you listening to us. I'm Amy Roblock alongside TJ. Holmes. We'll talk soon.