Taylor Farms Expands Iceberg Lettuce Recall After Cyclospora Test Positive in Mexico Sample

A fresh batch of shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de México has tested positive for the parasite Cyclospora, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to broaden a multistate recall that began earlier this month. The finding came from a shipment inspected under the FDA’s targeted import surveillance program, and it was not part of the original recall.

The contaminated lot has been detained, and Taylor Farms is working to determine whether any of the implicated lettuce remains in commerce or in consumers’ homes. The recall now covers 12‑ounce and 24‑ounce bags of Marketside iceberg salad, as well as 8‑ounce and 16‑ounce bags of Marketside shredded iceberg lettuce. Products were distributed between June 29 and July 16, with best‑if‑used dates ranging from July 18 through August 3. The recall also includes items sold to food‑service customers. The affected lettuce was shipped to 27 states, including California, where the company is headquartered.

The outbreak that led to the recall has sickened 1,644 people and hospitalized 94 across five states—Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia—since May 1, 2026. No deaths have been reported. The FDA’s investigation identified Taylor Farms de México as a supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce that was used in Taco Bell restaurants where infected customers reported eating before becoming ill. The agency noted that not every Taco Bell location in the five states received lettuce from the same supplier.

In response, Taco Bell announced it would stop using lettuce from the implicated supplier in select states where illnesses had been reported. The fast‑food chain also removed the ingredient from its supply chain nationwide by July 17. The FDA urged consumers who purchased the recalled lettuce to discard it immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

Taylor Farms has stated that none of its branded salad kits are implicated in the outbreak. The company reiterated on social media that it voluntarily removed iceberg lettuce sourced through its Taylor Farms de México operation after receiving information from the FDA. The recall notice said the company had stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of the iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico, notified its customers, and was working with the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state authorities.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can cause severe diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, fatigue, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. The parasite’s oocysts must sporulate in the environment for one to two weeks before becoming infectious, so direct person‑to‑person transmission is unlikely.

The FDA’s trace‑back investigation is ongoing. The agency has advised consumers in the five affected states not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell restaurants. The recall is part of a broader effort to address the outbreak, which has involved multiple food‑service establishments and retail outlets.

The outbreak and recall highlight the challenges of ensuring food safety for produce that is imported from international suppliers. The FDA’s targeted import surveillance program is designed to detect contaminants before products reach U.S. consumers, and the recent positive test prompted the agency to act quickly to expand the recall.

At present, the FDA and CDC are continuing to investigate the outbreak and to identify additional potential sources of Cyclospora. Consumers who suspect they have purchased recalled lettuce are advised to follow the FDA’s instructions to discard or return the product.

The recall and outbreak underscore the importance of vigilance in the supply chain and the need for ongoing collaboration between food producers, regulators, and consumers to protect public health.