Senator Elizabeth Warren has asked US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to explain what she calls the federal government’s mishandling of a record Cyclospora outbreak linked to Mexican-grown iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms. Her inquiry focuses on whether the company’s political donations and White House lobbying connections influenced food-safety oversight or delayed the official response, an allegation that raises concerns about public-health decision-making during an outbreak that has sickened more than 24,000 people and killed two.

Taylor Farms donated $1 million to a Trump-supporting super PAC shortly before the FDA delayed a food-traceability rule, while the company also employed former White House official Trent Morse as a lobbyist. Taco Bell reportedly removed lettuce on 7 July, but federal agencies did not identify lettuce at some of its restaurants until 17 July; Taylor Farms announced a recall that day and the FDA published it on 18 July. The recall lacked clear distribution details, though an FDA report said Walmart received 46% of recalled cases and Taco Bell’s parent company 2.5%; Warren is seeking records of communications between Taylor Farms and federal agencies.