Taylor Farms Lettuce Recall Reaches 27 States Amid Cyclospora Outbreak

Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce distributed across 27 states after federal investigators connected shredded lettuce to a large Cyclospora outbreak. Consumers with recalled products were told to discard them rather than wash and eat them.

On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico said it was removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the US market. The Food and Drug Administration published the company recall the next day and said its investigation remained active.

The action covers retail salad and shredded lettuce as well as a longer list of food-service products. It follows an FDA traceback that converged on Taylor Farms de Mexico as the supplier of shredded iceberg served at Taco Bell restaurants where people reported eating before they became ill.

Marketside Products and Food-Service Lettuce Are Included

The retail list includes Marketside iceberg products sold at select Walmart stores: 12- and 24-ounce Iceberg Salad with best-if-used-by dates from July 18 through August 3, and 8- and 16-ounce Shredded Lettuce carrying dates within the same period. The recall notice also lists food-service products under CV, JB, Mark, PK, SUB, SY and TF labels, with package descriptions, lot dates and disposal instructions.

Taylor Fresh Foods distributed affected iceberg products from June 29 through July 16 in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. FDA separately listed Marketside distribution in 15 states and warned that products could have moved farther through restaurant or retail channels.

Taco Bell stopped using lettuce from the supplier on July 17. FDA advised customers not to eat recalled lettuce at affected Taco Bell locations, including restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Diners who do not know the source of iceberg lettuce were advised to ask the restaurant.

FDA testing found Cyclospora in a sample of shredded iceberg supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico. The agency said that lot was detained and was not part of the current recall, while investigators worked to determine whether any of it had entered commerce or reached consumers. That distinction means the positive laboratory sample supports the traceback but does not replace the product and date list in the recall notice.

Outbreak Counts Cover Different Groups of Patients

The FDA investigation identified 1,644 confirmed illnesses among people in five states who reported exposure to Taco Bell. Illness began from May 13 through July 13. Ninety-four people were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. In a Michigan review of 190 patients who had eaten at Taco Bell, 90% reported iceberg lettuce in their meals.

CDC's national advisory used a broader surveillance measure. It counted 1,645 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired cases in 34 states since May 1, with 141 hospitalizations and no deaths. CDC was also reviewing more than 5,100 additional reports to determine whether they met the definition for domestic cyclosporiasis. The agency recorded 249 confirmed cases during the comparable period in 2025. Confirmed patients ranged from age 2 to 95, had a median age of 44 and were 56% female.

The numbers are not interchangeable. FDA's count describes a defined five-state restaurant outbreak, while CDC's total includes confirmed domestic cases tied to multiple clusters and possible sources. State totals can also include probable cases or reports that have not reached federal confirmation.

FDA warned that the commercial scope could change as traceback work continued:

“Because the investigation remains ongoing, additional implicated brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels may be identified as the investigation continues.”

Cyclospora Symptoms Can Return After Improving

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite transmitted through contaminated food or water. It does not usually spread directly from one person to another. Symptoms generally begin about a week after exposure, although CDC gives a range of two to 14 days. CDC treats May 1 through August 31 as the annual US cyclosporiasis season, and previous outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce.

Frequent watery diarrhea is the most common symptom. Appetite loss, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea and fatigue are also reported, while fever, vomiting, headache and body aches occur less often. Untreated illness can improve and then return, and immunocompromised patients can face a longer or more severe course.

People with prolonged or relapsing watery diarrhea should contact a health care provider and mention recent food exposure. CDC advises clinicians to request specific Cyclospora testing because routine ova-and-parasite examinations may miss the organism. Treatment decisions belong with a clinician; hydration is especially important when diarrhea is frequent or severe.

Recalled lettuce should be discarded or returned for a refund. Consumers should clean and sanitize containers and surfaces that touched it. Washing fresh produce remains a general safety step, but CDC says chemical sanitizing may not fully eliminate Cyclospora, and washing does not make a recalled product safe to eat.

Lot-Level Traceback Will Decide How Far the Recall Spreads

The recall must serve two different tasks: remove known products quickly and preserve enough lot, supplier and customer information to find additional distribution. Unclear branding at food-service customers makes that harder because diners may know the restaurant but not the lettuce supplier or production code.

FDA's next updates will show whether the detained positive lot, other products from the Guanajuato facility or additional restaurant and retail channels enter the warning. Until the traceback closes those gaps, consumers need to match brand, package size and use-by date rather than treating every package of lettuce as recalled or assuming an unlisted product has been cleared.