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Donald Trump proposes tariffs on Mexican lettuce after outbreak sickens thousands
President Donald Trump said the United States could impose a major tariff on lettuce imported from Mexico, linking the proposal to a food‑borne parasite outbreak that has sickened thousands of Americans. Health officials report more than 4,100 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis since early May, with around 7,400 additional suspected infections. Investigators have traced one cluster to shredded lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms that was distributed to Taco Bell restaurants; the contamination is believed to have originated at the company's processing facility in central Mexico. Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled the affected product and temporarily shut the plant while an independent review of its food‑safety procedures is conducted. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the primary outbreak is under control, though a second, unrelated cluster is also being investigated. Trump also joked that Canada could face tariffs because of wildfire smoke drifting into the United States.
Entities
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Donald Trump · Mexico · Taco Bell · Taylor Farms