Georgia shoppers warned about recalled iceberg lettuce linked to Cyclospora outbreak

Georgia consumers are being urged to check packaged iceberg lettuce after state officials confirmed that recalled Taylor Farms and Marketside products sourced from central Mexico reached the state through retail and food-service channels.

Taylor Farms announced the voluntary recall on July 17, 2026. The Georgia Department of Agriculture issued its state advisory on July 21, and the FDA’s July 24 update said its investigation into a multistate Cyclospora outbreak remained ongoing. The retail products listed in the notices carry best-if-used-by dates through August 3, 2026.

What Georgia shoppers should check

The Georgia advisory says recalled Marketside products were sold at Walmart locations in Georgia. Before eating packaged iceberg lettuce, check the brand, product description, package size, country-of-origin label and best-if-used-by date.

• Marketside Classic Iceberg Salad in 12-ounce and 24-ounce packages.
• Marketside Shredded Lettuce: the Georgia advisory lists 12-ounce and 24-ounce packages, while the FDA recall notice lists 8-ounce and 16-ounce packages. Consumers should compare their package with the current FDA recall notice before eating it.
• Best-if-used-by dates generally running from July 18, 2026, through August 3, 2026.
• Country-of-origin labeling identifying the product as sourced from Mexico or from central Mexico.

The recall is limited to specified Taylor Farms and Marketside iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico. It does not mean that all products sold under either brand are recalled.

What is not included

Georgia officials said Taylor Farms and Marketside products labeled “Product of the USA” are not included in the current recall, and the FDA said it was not aware of those products being connected to the recall. That distinction applies to the current recall notice; it is not a guarantee that locally grown or domestic lettuce is inherently free of every food-safety risk.

The Georgia Agriculture Department also encouraged residents to consider Georgia-grown lettuce as a way to support local farmers. That is agency guidance and should not be treated as a medical guarantee.

What to do with recalled lettuce

Do not eat any product that matches the recall. Consumers should discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. The FDA also advises people to carefully clean and sanitize containers, refrigerators, countertops and other surfaces that touched recalled lettuce.

Restaurants, retailers and other food-service businesses that received recalled lettuce should follow the FDA’s disposal and food-safety instructions and check the complete food-service product list, which includes additional product descriptions and lot information.

Symptoms that may require medical care

Cyclospora infection can cause diarrhea and frequent bowel movements, along with loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache and fever may also occur. Some infected people have no symptoms.

People who develop symptoms after possible exposure should contact a health care provider, especially if they ate shredded iceberg lettuce in the two weeks before becoming sick. Untreated illness can lead to dehydration and other complications, may last for weeks or longer, and can recur.

Georgia distribution is not the same as Georgia cases

The FDA’s July 24 update listed outbreak illnesses in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Georgia was listed among the states where distribution of recalled products was confirmed, but Georgia was not listed among the states with confirmed outbreak cases in that update.

The FDA said the investigation is ongoing and that additional implicated products, restaurants, retailers or distribution channels could be identified. Residents should review the Georgia Agriculture Department’s recall information and the FDA’s recall and outbreak notices for the complete and most current product lists before consuming packaged iceberg lettuce covered by the advisory.

Sources

• Georgia Department of Agriculture advisory on Taylor Farms recall
• FDA investigation of 9-state Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce
• Associated Press report on expanded Taylor Farms lettuce recall