Produce supplier Taylor Farms is indefinitely recalling all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after federal investigators linked the product to a major Cyclospora parasite outbreak. The outbreak has sickened thousands of people, primarily in Michigan where over 5,000 cases are reported. The contaminated lettuce reached Taco Bell locations in five states, prompting the fast-food chain to pull the ingredient nationwide. This recall follows previous safety incidents for Taylor Farms, including a 2013 Cyclospora outbreak and a 2024 E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's onions.
Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce recall
- ▪No other Taylor Fresh Foods products, including Taylor Farms branded salad kits, are affected by the iceberg lettuce removal
- ▪Taylor Farms initiated the iceberg lettuce removal voluntarily based on information provided by the United States Food and Drug Administration
- ▪The Food and Drug Administration is testing product samples and working with Taylor Farms to determine if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market
- ▪Taylor Farms is indefinitely removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the United States market
- ▪The Food and Drug Administration traceback investigation pointed to a specific independent farm in Mexico representing less than 1% of the United States iceberg lettuce supply as the potential source of the outbreak
Cyclospora parasite outbreak
- ▪Michigan health officials reported 5,002 cases of cyclosporiasis and 102 hospitalizations as of July 17, 2026, marking an increase of 690 cases from the previous day
- ▪The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 1,644 domestic cases of cyclosporiasis across 34 states since May 1, 2026, and is investigating more than 5,100 additional cases
- ▪California reported 41 cases of cyclosporiasis between January and June 2026, none of which are linked to the current multistate outbreak
- ▪The Food and Drug Administration has reported zero deaths associated with the current cyclosporiasis outbreak
Taco Bell restaurant impact
- ▪More than 1,600 sick people in the outbreak cluster, including 94 hospitalized individuals, reported eating at Taco Bell locations across five states
- ▪Taco Bell voluntarily removed the potentially impacted lettuce from its supply chain nationwide and scheduled replacements within 24 hours in select states
- ▪The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned residents in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia against eating shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell locations
- ▪An anonymous industry source stated that Taylor Farms instructed clients, including Taco Bell owner Yum Brands and distributor Sysco, to pull shredded lettuce from distribution
- ▪An Ohio man filed a lawsuit seeking damages from Taco Bell, franchise operator Charter Foods, and supplier Taylor Farms after being hospitalized with cyclosporiasis
Taylor Farms recall history
- ▪Taylor Farms supplied the slivered onions linked to a 2024 E. coli outbreak associated with McDonald's Quarter Pounder burgers, which sickened 104 people and caused one death
- ▪Taylor Farms recalled onions sold at Kroger and Walmart in 2020, and recalled certain salad kits in 2025 due to undeclared soy and sesame allergens
- ▪In 2013, a cyclosporiasis outbreak that sickened over 600 people across 25 states was linked to salad mix from Taylor Farms de Mexico in Guanajuato, Mexico
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