FDA links recalled lettuce supplier to 1,947-case Cyclospora outbreak
The Food and Drug Administration says its traceback investigation has converged on Taylor Farms de Mexico as the supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations where people later became ill in a multistate Cyclospora outbreak.
As of the FDA‘s July 24, 2026 update, 1,947 people in nine states had reported Cyclospora illness after Taco Bell exposure. At least 98 people had been hospitalized, and no deaths had been reported. Illness-onset dates ranged from June 22 through July 20, 2026.
The investigation remains ongoing. Federal officials expect the case count to rise because it can take as long as six weeks to determine whether an illness belongs to the outbreak.
What investigators found
The FDA said epidemiological information and traceback evidence continued to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico and served at Taco Bell restaurants where sick people had eaten. The finding does not mean every Taco Bell location or every Taco Bell food item was unsafe.
The FDA also said that, as of July 19, no product sample had been confirmed positive for Cyclospora. A false-positive border sample did not change the basis for the agency’s ongoing investigation or the voluntary recall supported by the epidemiological and traceback evidence.
The nine states with Taco Bell-exposure cases are Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. State totals may differ because states can include probable cases or reports that have not yet been incorporated into the federal count.
What the recall covers
On July 17, Taylor Farms de Mexico announced that it was voluntarily removing iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market. The FDA recall record identifies Taylor Fresh Foods as the company associated with the recall.
Taylor Fresh Foods distributed recalled iceberg lettuce products to food-service customers from June 29 through July 16 in 28 states: 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, Wisconsin and West Virginia.
The recalled products include food-service items such as shredded lettuce, chopped lettuce, salad mixes, lettuce blends and prepared salad products. Some listed use-by dates extend through Aug. 3, 2026. The 28-state distribution list shows where distribution was confirmed; it does not mean every restaurant or retailer in those states received the lettuce.
The recall also includes certain Marketside iceberg salad and shredded-lettuce products sold at select Walmart stores. Consumers should check the FDA recall notice for product descriptions, lot information and dates rather than assuming that every Taylor Farms product or all lettuce nationwide is affected.
What Taco Bell and other chains are doing
Taco Bell said it stopped using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as of July 17. That was a precautionary supply action as the investigation developed, not a finding that all food served by the chain was contaminated.
The outbreak has also affected restaurant traffic beyond the locations named in the federal investigation. The Associated Press reported that Yum Brands said Taco Bell’s U.S. same-store sales were down 2% so far in the July-September period, compared with a 7% increase in the previous quarter. AP also reported that Chipotle lowered its same-store-sales outlook because of weaker traffic linked to consumer concern.
AP cited market-research data showing a decline in foot traffic at Chopt and lower year-over-year spending at Sweetgreen. Neither chain was identified by federal officials as an outbreak source, and Sweetgreen said its food had not been connected to the outbreak.
Symptoms and what to do
Cyclospora commonly causes watery or frequent diarrhea. Other symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache and fever may also occur. Symptoms can improve and return, and untreated illness can lead to dehydration or more serious complications.
Diners who ate shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell during the affected period and develop persistent or recurring diarrhea should contact a health care provider and report the possible exposure. The CDC identifies prescription treatment as the standard treatment approach, but diagnosis and treatment decisions should be handled by a medical professional.
Restaurants and retailers should check receiving records and lot information against the Taylor Fresh Foods recall, remove recalled products from service or sale, discard them according to the recall instructions and clean and sanitize food-contact surfaces and containers the lettuce touched. Consumers should not eat recalled lettuce and should clean and sanitize surfaces or containers it contacted. Refunds are available at the location of purchase for recalled products.
The FDA says additional restaurants, retailers, distribution channels or states could be identified as the investigation continues.
Sources
Discover more from Interactive News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
