As of the FDA and CDC update on July 24, 2026, 98 people in 17 states had been infected with the outbreak strain, including 26 hospitalizations. No deaths had been reported. The investigation remains ongoing, and the FDA says Midwest Poultry Services eggs are a likely source but do not explain every illness.

The warning remains relevant on Aug. 15 because the recalled eggs have sell-by or best-by dates running through Aug. 17. Some were shipped in bulk to food-service customers, where the eggs may not have carried familiar retail branding or a standard UPC.

What was recalled

Midwest Poultry Services announced the recall on July 22. It covers 1,589,577 dozen white-shell and brown cage-free shell eggs produced and distributed from Texas farms between June 6 and July 3, 2026.

The eggs were sold under several brand names, including Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire’s, Country Morning and Cal-Maine Sunups. The recall also includes bulk food-service products, such as large wholesale cases that may not have ordinary consumer packaging.

Confirmed distribution includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The FDA said the products could have traveled farther. Not every egg sold under a listed brand is recalled; the plant code and Julian date must match.

Recalled eggs have code P-1950 or 0840962 printed on the carton, along with a Julian date from 157 through 184. The affected sell-by or best-by dates run from July 20 through Aug. 17, 2026.

Why officials linked the eggs to the outbreak

The FDA said laboratory, epidemiological and traceback evidence identified the recalled eggs as a likely source. Samples collected at Texas farms tested positive for Salmonella, and third-party whole-genome sequencing found that some samples matched the outbreak strain.

That is not a finding that the eggs caused every illness. Investigators said Midwest Poultry Services does not account for all cases and are continuing to look for other possible sources.

What restaurants and retailers should do

Restaurants and retailers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas that received the recalled eggs should not sell or serve them. Businesses should review receiving records, inventory and supplier information, including records for bulk, wholesale and food-service eggs.

Recalled eggs should be isolated and discarded or returned according to supplier and public-health instructions. They should not be used even if they look or smell normal.

Businesses should also determine whether recalled eggs were used in prepared foods that remain in inventory. Refrigerators, counters, utensils, containers and food-preparation equipment that may have contacted raw recalled eggs should be washed and sanitized to reduce cross-contamination.

What consumers should check

Households should inspect egg cartons and other packaging for code P-1950 or 0840962 and Julian dates 157 through 184. If eggs were removed from their original packaging and cannot be identified, consumers should throw them away or return them rather than use them.

People should wash hands, utensils and surfaces with hot, soapy water after handling raw eggs or foods containing them. Salmonella symptoms commonly include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps; nausea and vomiting can also occur. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness.

Consumers should contact a health care provider for severe or persistent symptoms, including bloody diarrhea, diarrhea lasting more than two days, a fever above 102 degrees, repeated vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down or signs of dehydration.

What to watch next

The FDA and CDC say the investigation is ongoing. Future updates could identify additional sources, expand confirmed distribution or change the recall’s scope. Restaurants, retailers and food-service buyers should monitor agency notices and be prepared to recheck inventory if new codes, dates or products are added.

Sources

• FDA outbreak investigation
• CDC outbreak guidance
• Associated Press reporting

The June figure marked the fourth monthly sales increase in the previous five months, according to the National Restaurant Association’s summary of Census data. Earlier April and May sales figures were also revised higher.

The results show an industry still producing nominal sales growth, but they do not establish that restaurants are serving more customers or earning stronger profits. Traffic has remained uneven, while food, labor and other business costs continue to pressure operators, according to the association.

Prices continue to shape the totals

Federal inflation data showed that food-away-from-home prices were 3.4% higher in June than a year earlier. Restaurant menu prices rose 0.2% during the month and were up 3.4% from June 2025.

Grocery prices increased 2.7% over the same period. That smaller year-over-year increase narrowed the historical price gap between eating at home and dining out, although the latest figures still show restaurant meals becoming more expensive on an annual basis.

The distinction between dollar sales and inflation-adjusted sales is important. A restaurant can report higher revenue because customers pay more for meals even if the number of visits or the amount purchased is flat. The June data, by themselves, do not separate the effect of prices from changes in customer volume.

For diners, the national figures point to continued price pressure when eating away from home. For restaurant operators, they show that maintaining sales totals is not the same as protecting margins, particularly when higher menu prices may coexist with uneven traffic and rising operating expenses.

Industry outlook calls for limited real growth

The National Restaurant Association later reduced its 2026 forecast for inflation-adjusted, or real, restaurant-sales growth to 0.8%. It retained a forecast of 4.3% growth in nominal sales, the unadjusted dollar total.

The gap between those forecasts reflects the role of prices in the industry’s outlook. Nominal sales can rise substantially while real growth remains modest after accounting for inflation. The association’s forecast is an industry projection rather than a government estimate.

The revised outlook also reflects challenging business conditions. The association said restaurant traffic remained uneven and costs continued to weigh on profitability. Those conditions leave operators balancing the need to cover expenses against the risk that additional price increases could affect demand.

What happens next

June’s sales number is preliminary, so it may be revised as additional data become available. The next updates will help show whether the recent increase represents a sustained improvement or another small monthly move in an industry navigating high prices and uneven traffic.

For now, the national picture is mixed: restaurant sales are still rising in dollar terms, but inflation-adjusted growth is expected to remain limited. The latest data point to continued revenue expansion without clear evidence that the typical restaurant is seeing stronger customer traffic or wider profit margins.

The increase marked the fourth monthly sales gain in the previous five months. The association said consumers continued spending at restaurants despite elevated gasoline prices, offering a new measure of household demand across the nationwide restaurant and foodservice industry.

Because the June total is preliminary, it may be revised as the underlying data are updated. The monthly figure is also an industrywide total, not a measure of performance at every individual restaurant.

Higher sales do not settle the profitability question

The June increase shows that money continued to flow into the industry, but it does not by itself establish that restaurant profitability improved. Businesses must use their sales revenue to cover food, labor and other operating expenses, and those costs remain a central concern for operators.

The National Restaurant Association said average restaurant expenses rose 36% between 2019 and 2026. It identified food and labor costs as major sources of pressure and described persistent expenses and uneven customer traffic as continuing risks for the industry.

That gap between revenue and costs is important for interpreting the monthly result. A higher national sales total can coexist with financial strain if the expenses required to generate those sales are also rising. The June data therefore provide evidence of continued consumer spending, but not a profitability result for the industry or for individual businesses.

The association also linked the June growth to continued spending while gasoline prices remained elevated. That context makes the report a timely indicator of how consumers are allocating money to restaurants and other foodservice businesses while facing higher fuel costs. The figures do not show that every restaurant or region recorded an increase.

Trade group forecasts broader industry growth

The association’s February 2026 “State of the Restaurant Industry” report projects $1.55 trillion in total U.S. restaurant and foodservice sales for the full year. It also forecasts approximately 100,000 additional jobs.

Those are National Restaurant Association projections, rather than a government forecast. The association presented the outlook alongside warnings about persistent cost pressure and uneven traffic. Its forecast therefore combines an expectation of continued industrywide sales growth with concerns about the conditions facing individual operators.

The annual projection and the June figure measure different things. The $102.5 billion amount is a preliminary, seasonally adjusted monthly estimate for eating-and-drinking places. The $1.55 trillion figure is the association’s projection for total restaurant and foodservice sales across 2026, while the 100,000 figure is its estimate of additional jobs.

What the June result shows next

The immediate next step is revision of the preliminary June estimate and the release of additional monthly sales data. Those updates will show whether the recent pattern of gains continues.

For now, the figures point to continued national restaurant spending even as gasoline prices and business expenses remain elevated. They also underscore why sales growth alone gives an incomplete picture of the industry. Operators are contending with food, labor and other costs that the association says have risen substantially since 2019, while customer traffic remains uneven.

The result is a mixed picture: demand has held up, but the financial effect of that demand depends on how much it costs restaurants to serve customers. June’s modest increase is therefore best read as a sign of continued spending, not as proof that the industry’s cost pressures have eased.

The discussion was reported June 29, 2026. The available record does not establish that officials have introduced, passed or rejected a specific repeal ordinance. Alcohol sales therefore should not be described as currently legal in Collingswood based on the approved sources.

What the possible change could mean

If Collingswood ends the ban, eligible businesses could be permitted to seek liquor licenses. That could create new commercial opportunities and change the operating environment for restaurants and the broader restaurant and nightlife market.

A licensing program could also produce municipal revenue. Before that could happen, however, the borough would need to determine how many licenses to allow and establish the regulations that would apply to businesses receiving them.

The approved sources do not identify a proposed number of licenses, a potential license cost or the conditions that applicants would have to meet. They also do not identify any particular restaurant or other business as a likely license holder.

For local business owners and prospective applicants, the practical issue is still a possible change in the rules rather than an active new licensing opportunity. Restaurants may be watching the discussion because alcohol service could affect how some businesses operate and compete, but the available reporting does not document a finalized program or an approved applicant.

Where the process stands

The June 29 report describes an exploration of whether to end the prohibition, not completed repeal. That distinction matters for residents, workers, business owners and municipal taxpayers: the policy, the number of licenses, the cost of licenses and the operating rules remain unresolved in the approved record.

Separate official Collingswood code records list 2026 development-regulation amendments, including Ordinance 1835, which was adopted June 1, 2026. Those records confirm that the borough maintains an official system recording code and ordinance activity. They do not establish that Ordinance 1835 ended the alcohol-sales prohibition, nor do the approved sources connect that ordinance to a liquor-licensing program.

The next known development is continued borough consideration of whether to repeal the ban and, if officials move forward, decisions about licensing and the rules governing alcohol sales. No deadline for that decision or subsequent formal action is documented in the approved sources.

Until Collingswood records specific final action, the scope and timing of any alcohol-sales policy change remain unresolved. For now, the borough’s consideration signals a possible shift in commercial regulation, not a confirmed repeal or a guarantee that any particular business will receive a license.

The National Restaurant Association reported the June figure on July 16, citing preliminary U.S. Census Bureau sales data. June sales were up from $102.4 billion in May and marked the fourth monthly increase in the preceding five months.

The numbers show a split in the restaurant industry: sales measured in dollars are continuing to rise, while the number of customer visits remains under pressure. That makes the headline growth less indicative of broadly strong demand and leaves operators facing a difficult profitability environment.

Sales are rising while traffic falls

In the association’s May operator survey, 50% of respondents said their same-store sales were higher than a year earlier, while 33% reported declines. Same-store sales track performance at established locations and do not necessarily reflect the opening or closing of restaurants.

Traffic was weaker. Forty-five percent of operators surveyed said customer traffic declined in May. On a net basis, traffic had fallen in 15 of the previous 16 months, according to the association.

That pattern matters for restaurants because higher sales totals do not necessarily mean that more people are dining out more often. Sales can be affected by menu-price changes as well as by traffic and other factors. The current data therefore point to an industry generating more revenue in nominal terms without a comparable improvement in visits.

The survey results describe the operators who responded; they are not equivalent to final government statistics and should not be generalized to every restaurant in the country.

Costs continue to weigh on profitability

The National Restaurant Association estimated that average restaurant expenses in 2026 were 36% higher than before the pandemic. Food and labor were each responsible for approximately 33 cents of every restaurant sales dollar, making them the two largest cost categories identified in the association’s analysis.

For restaurant owners and operators, the combination of weak traffic and elevated expenses can make modest sales growth less valuable than it appears. If sales rise while food, labor and other operating costs remain high, a larger top-line figure does not automatically translate into stronger margins.

The cost figures are an association estimate, rather than a final government measure. They provide context for why restaurants may continue adjusting prices, managing staffing and controlling other expenses even as monthly sales records show increases.

2026 outlook favors nominal growth

The association’s revised 2026 forecast calls for 4.3% nominal restaurant sales growth. After accounting for inflation, it projects just 0.8% growth in real, or inflation-adjusted, sales.

The gap between those forecasts underscores the central issue facing the sector. A 4.3% increase in dollar sales would represent a much larger improvement on paper than the 0.8% increase expected after inflation is taken into account. The forecast does not establish that all sales growth is caused by inflation; traffic and other factors also affect industry results.

For diners, the data describe an environment in which restaurants are still bringing in substantial sales but are operating under cost pressure and seeing fewer visits. For operators, the preliminary June result offers evidence of continued revenue growth, but the traffic and expense measures show why that growth may not lead to broadly healthier businesses.

The next interpretation of the June result will depend on how the preliminary Census Bureau figure develops and whether the industry’s traffic trend improves. For now, the latest national snapshot is one of higher nominal sales, persistent weakness in customer visits and costs well above pre-pandemic levels.

They are not one nationwide outbreak and do not share a common pathogen or confirmed source. The FDA updated the egg and lettuce investigations on July 24, 2026, and expanded the specified GreenWise frozen-berry recall in a July 30 update.

Eggs: check the plant code and Julian dates

As of the FDA’s July 24 update, 98 people in 17 states had been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella. There had been 26 hospitalizations and no deaths. Illness onset dates ranged from Nov. 21, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Recalled shell eggs produced by Midwest Poultry Services were confirmed as distributed in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, although the FDA said the product could have traveled farther. The eggs were sold through retail and foodservice channels, including Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana and Brookshire Grocery stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Consumers should check the side of the carton for plant code P-1950 or 0840962 and Julian dates from 157 through 184. Affected brands include Country Morning, Cal-Maine Sunups, Brookshire’s, Simple Truth and Kroger. The recalled cartons have sell-by or best-by dates from July 20 through Aug. 17, 2026.

The FDA says the recalled eggs are a likely source of illnesses in the investigation, but Midwest Poultry Services does not account for every reported illness. Officials are continuing to investigate whether other sources are involved.

Lettuce: the largest case count, with broader distribution than the case states

As of July 24, the FDA reported 1,947 Cyclospora illnesses and at least 98 hospitalizations among people in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia who reported Taco Bell exposure. No deaths had been reported.

The investigation is not limited to Taco Bell. Recalled iceberg lettuce also moved through retail and foodservice channels. Taylor Farms recalled Marketside Iceberg Salad in 12- and 24-ounce packages and Shredded Lettuce in 8- and 16-ounce packages with best-if-used-by dates spanning July 18 through Aug. 3, 2026. Foodservice distribution was confirmed across more states than the nine states reporting cases.

The FDA said epidemiological and traceback evidence continued to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms sourced from growers in central Mexico. A sample collected July 19 was later classified as a false positive, but the agency said that result did not overturn the broader investigation or the voluntary recall. FDA guidance says consumers should continue to avoid the products listed in the recall.

The recalled lettuce distribution list may not represent the product’s full reach. Taco Bell said it stopped using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as of July 17, 2026, but the recall also covers retail and other foodservice channels.

Frozen berries: four GreenWise products are covered by the expanded recall

The FDA and state partners are investigating E. coli O145:H28 illnesses linked in part to frozen GreenWise organic blueberries sold through Publix. As of the FDA’s July 30 update, the investigation listed 12 illnesses, four hospitalizations and no deaths, with cases in Florida and Georgia.

Publix recalled all lots of four specified products: GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries in 10-ounce packages, UPC 41415-06453, and 48-ounce packages, UPC 41415-12053; and GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries in 10-ounce packages, UPC 41415-06753, and 48-ounce packages, UPC 41415-12153.

The products were distributed through Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The recall applies to the specified products, not to all frozen fruit. The FDA said additional products could be added as the investigation continues.

What consumers and food businesses should do

Compare the exact product name, package size, UPC, plant code, lot information and date against the current FDA recall notice. Do not taste a recalled product. Discard it or return it for a refund according to the retailer’s instructions.

Clean and sanitize refrigerators, freezers, counters, utensils and containers that may have contacted recalled food. Restaurants, retailers and other food businesses should stop sale or service of affected products and check receiving and inventory records for additional distribution.

Anyone who develops concerning symptoms after possible exposure should contact a health care provider. Depending on the pathogen, symptoms can include severe or persistent diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration, fever, nausea or vomiting. People with possible exposure should seek prompt medical advice for severe symptoms or symptoms that do not improve.

What happens next

FDA, CDC and state health officials are continuing to update these investigations. Case counts, distribution information, recalled product lists and conclusions about likely sources may change. The FDA also warns that reported illnesses can rise after a recall because identifying and confirming cases takes time.

The practical distinction is important: these are three separate alerts involving different foods, pathogens and levels of evidence. Consumers should check the exact product identifiers rather than assume that every egg, lettuce product or frozen berry is unsafe.

Sources

• FDA egg outbreak investigation
• Associated Press restaurant-impact report

Federal data released July 14 showed that both food away from home and food at home rose 0.2% in June. Compared with June 2025, restaurant prices were up 3.4%, while grocery prices were up 2.7%.

What changed in June

The figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics‘ Consumer Price Index. In the CPI, food away from home covers restaurant meals and other prepared food purchased outside the home. Food at home covers groceries bought for household consumption.

The National Restaurant Association‘s analysis of the June data found that menu prices increased 0.2% in June, down from a 0.3% increase in May. The 3.4% annual increase was the slowest restaurant-price growth in 17 months, according to the association.

Grocery prices also rose 0.2% in June. During the first six months of 2026, however, food-at-home prices increased an average of 0.3% per month, compared with 0.2% for restaurant menu prices.

That is why the gap has narrowed. Grocery prices have been moving faster this year, but the 12-month comparison still shows restaurant prices rising more quickly overall.

Full-service restaurants are seeing faster increases

The type of restaurant matters. Prices for full-service meals rose 0.4% in June and were 3.7% higher than a year earlier. Prices for limited-service meals increased 0.1% in June and 3.1% over the same 12-month period.

Those figures measure changes in prices across broad categories, not the total cost of a particular visit. A diner’s bill can also vary because of the items ordered, portion sizes, tips, taxes, delivery fees, promotions and how often the household eats out.

The CPI does not compare a specific restaurant meal with a specific grocery basket. A household buying premium ingredients, fresh produce or more meat may experience a different change in its food budget than the national grocery index suggests. The CPI is also a measure of price change, not a measure of whether a restaurant meal costs more or less than a home-cooked meal.

Why restaurant and grocery prices move differently

Restaurants price a service as well as the food itself. Their operating costs can include labor, rent, utilities, equipment, packaging and delivery, in addition to ingredients. Grocery prices are more directly tied to the products households place in their carts, although transportation, processing, weather, trade policy and supply conditions also affect them.

Wholesale food costs provide part of the background, but they are not the same as what every restaurant pays for every ingredient or what consumers pay at the register. The National Restaurant Association, citing preliminary Producer Price Index data, said wholesale food prices were essentially unchanged in June. The overall Producer Price Index for All Foods remained 35% above its February 2020 level.

Commodity results varied widely. Compared with June 2025, producer prices were higher for fresh vegetables, unprocessed finfish, fats and oils, beef and veal, coffee, milk and soft drinks. Prices were lower for eggs, butter, confectionery materials, pork, processed poultry, refined sugar, milled rice and cheese. Cost pressure can therefore differ sharply depending on a restaurant’s menu mix.

The regional picture is uneven

Menu-price growth was fastest in the Midwest, where prices rose 0.5% in June. Prices increased 0.3% in the South and 0.2% in the Northeast. The West was flat for the month.

Over the year, menu prices rose 3.9% in the Midwest, 3.5% in the Northeast, 3.3% in the South and 2.9% in the West. These are broad regional patterns, not precise estimates for every state or city. BLS area indexes measure average price changes within an area; they do not measure differences in price levels between cities.

What diners should watch next

The next major checkpoint is the BLS release for July’s CPI, scheduled for August 12, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. The key questions will be whether grocery prices continue to outpace menu prices month to month and whether the annual restaurant increase remains above the grocery rate.

The June data show moderation in restaurant inflation, not a reversal. For households, the practical result will continue to depend on where they live, what they buy, how often they dine out and whether discounts or other pricing changes affect the final bill. BLS also notes that indexes for the most recent 10 to 12 months are subject to revision, so the comparison may change modestly as later data are incorporated.

Sources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — June 2026 Consumer Price Index
• National Restaurant Association — Menu Prices

Eating and drinking places recorded $102.5 billion in seasonally adjusted sales in June, according to preliminary Census Bureau data reported by the National Restaurant Association. May sales were $102.4 billion, so the month-to-month increase was only $0.1 billion.

That sales figure is measured in current dollars. It is not adjusted for menu-price increases. After accounting for inflation, real restaurant sales were up 0.4% from a year earlier in June, while the recent trend remained relatively flat.

Why higher sales do not necessarily mean more customers

A restaurant can take in more money without serving substantially more meals. If menu prices rise, the same number of customers—or even slightly fewer—can produce higher nominal sales.

That distinction matters because the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that food-away-from-home prices rose 3.4% over the 12 months ending in June. Prices for full-service meals increased 3.7%, while limited-service meals rose 3.1%.

The National Restaurant Association has described customer traffic as uneven and said rising menu prices continue to support nominal sales. That does not establish a single national decline in traffic. It does show why receipts alone are an incomplete measure of demand: sales can rise because of higher prices, more spending per visit or stronger activity in some segments, even when traffic is mixed.

Food-service employment fell in June

Food services and drinking places lost a preliminary 32,900 jobs in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to BLS data summarized by the National Restaurant Association. The broader leisure-and-hospitality sector lost 61,000 jobs.

BLS said the broader leisure-and-hospitality decline reflected weaker-than-usual seasonal hiring. The restaurant figures are preliminary and can be revised. The National Restaurant Association said the latest restaurant employment estimates for April and May were revised materially lower, reducing the apparent payroll gains reported earlier in the year.

As of June, employment at eating and drinking places was only 62,000 jobs, or 0.5%, above its February 2020 level. That comparison refers specifically to eating and drinking places and reflects the latest revisions; it is not a measure of every job in the wider food-service economy.

BLS also revised total nonfarm payroll growth for April and May down by a combined 74,000 jobs. The agency has scheduled a preliminary annual benchmark revision to establishment-survey data for August 28, another reason to treat short-term industry comparisons cautiously.

What the numbers mean for diners and workers

For households, the immediate effect is straightforward: restaurant prices remain elevated. Full-service meals continued to see faster annual price growth than limited-service meals, although both categories rose.

For operators, the data point to a difficult balance. Higher prices can support dollar sales, but uneven demand, operating costs and seasonal uncertainty may limit how aggressively restaurants add staff. The June employment decline does not prove that price increases caused the job losses. It does suggest that hiring did not keep pace with the modest sales increase.

For workers and job seekers, the next question is whether June was a temporary seasonal setback or an early sign of weaker staffing demand. The July Employment Situation report is scheduled for August 7, 2026. Revisions to June employment, updated real-sales data and additional traffic measures will also matter.

The larger lesson is that higher receipts alone do not show that restaurants are enjoying a broad-based recovery. To understand the sector, readers need to watch nominal sales, inflation-adjusted sales, customer traffic and employment together.

Sources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: June 2026 Employment Situation
• National Restaurant Association: Total restaurant industry sales
• CBS News: June jobs report

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

• FDA outbreak investigation
• Associated Press
• CDC Cyclosporiasis

The nearly 66,000-square-foot store occupies the upstairs portion of the former Sears space. Its opening puts a major new tenant into a former department-store anchor as Chandler Fashion Center pursues more dining, entertainment and gathering uses.

What opened

The store includes fresh and live seafood offerings and a 300-seat food hall, according to local business reporting. The food hall gives shoppers an option to eat on-site in addition to buying groceries and specialty products.

For Chandler residents and visitors, the immediate change is straightforward: Seafood City is now operating at the mall, offering a Filipino-focused supermarket and dining option in a location that previously held Sears.

How it fits the mall’s redevelopment

Chandler Fashion Center has been reusing former anchor space as traditional department-store tenants have left. Round1, an arcade and bowling tenant, occupies the downstairs portion of the former Sears area, while Seafood City now uses the space above it.

Axios reported that the mall is positioning the property around a broader mix of dining and entertainment rather than relying only on conventional retail. The mall’s owner, Macerich, has also identified the former-anchor conversions and newer tenants as part of the property’s leasing and redevelopment activity.

The opening does not establish specific job totals, sales figures or traffic increases. Those effects will require separate measurement after the store has been operating for a longer period.

What comes next

Construction on a redesigned dining and entertainment district near the Harkins Theatres area on the mall’s south end is scheduled to begin in August 2026, Axios reported.

Plans described in the reporting include additional restaurants, a covered gathering area, lawn games, a park, an expanded splash pad and space for music performances. Those features remain planned or scheduled; they are not part of the already-open Seafood City store.

What Chandler shoppers should know

Seafood City is the completed part of the change and is open now at Chandler Fashion Center. The mall’s next south-end improvements are a separate future construction phase.

Together, the projects show how the property is reusing former department-store space and adding food and entertainment uses. Whether the broader strategy changes shopping patterns, nearby business activity or traffic will depend on how the planned work proceeds and how visitors use the new spaces.

Sources

• Axios Phoenix: Chandler Fashion Center bets big on dining and entertainment
• Phoenix Business Journal: Seafood City debuts first Arizona store
• Chandler Fashion Center events page

Sealed mixed drinks can still go out the door

For Washington restaurants and bars that offer pickup or delivery, the practical takeaway is that Illinois still allows sealed mixed drinks and cocktails to be carried out or delivered under state law. The rule requires tamper-evident sealing, labeling, age checks, and employee delivery. Third-party delivery services are not allowed.

That matters because Washington businesses still have to follow their liquor license and the state handling rules. But owners now have a clearer long-term framework for takeout orders and menu planning than they did when the allowance was temporary.

The new early childhood agency is fully in place

The Illinois Department of Early Childhood began its lead role on July 1. For Washington families, that may not mean an immediate change at a front counter or in a classroom, but it does affect how child care licensing, child care assistance, home visiting, early intervention, and related services are organized.

The department says the transition is meant to make early childhood programs simpler to navigate. Parents and providers may feel that most in paperwork, program guidance, funding questions, and where to look for answers.

Schools now have a clearer cyberbullying rule for AI images

Illinois also updated its school bullying rules so that, beginning with the 2026-27 school year, cyberbullying can include posting or distributing a digital replica by electronic means. In plain English, that means fake AI-generated images or similar replicas can be part of a bullying complaint when they are used to harass a student.

This is not a broader ban on artificial intelligence in class. It is a school-safety and harassment rule. Washington-area districts may want to review student handbooks, reporting procedures, and discipline language before the new school year so staff know how to respond when fake images or cloned likenesses show up online.

The motor-fuel tax increase is paused for now

Drivers and businesses that burn fuel every day also got a short-term break. The Illinois Department of Revenue says the scheduled July 1 consumer-price adjustment to the motor fuel tax was suspended for six months, through December 31, 2026.

That is a pause, not a repeal. Washington commuters, delivery drivers, and small businesses should not read it as a permanent fuel-tax cut. But it does delay a planned increase for now, which may slightly ease operating costs during the second half of the year.

The main takeaway for Washington residents is simple: these are statewide Illinois policy shifts with local ripple effects. Restaurants, child-care providers, schools, and drivers are the most likely to feel them first, and local guidance may follow as businesses and institutions adjust.

Sources

• WJBC roundup on Illinois laws taking effect July 1
• Illinois Department of Revenue bulletin on motor fuel tax timing
• Illinois Compiled Statutes: delivery and carry out of mixed drinks
• Illinois Department of Early Childhood budget milestone release

Fontana’s Planning Commission voted April 21 to recommend a zoning change that would remove private parking requirements for certain downtown retail, restaurant and entertainment uses when they are located near city-owned public parking.

The proposal is not final city policy yet. It now moves to the City Council for further review and possible adoption.

But the recommendation is a clear signal about where Fontana wants downtown to go: less dependence on each project building its own parking lot, and more support for a walkable district that can lean on shared public parking instead.

That approach fits the city’s Forge District downtown renaissance plan, which describes a broader push for redevelopment, walkability, housing and public space in the center of town. In practical terms, it could make some future projects easier to build or lease because restaurant and retail tenants would not always need to dedicate as much land and money to parking.

What the package changes

The parking change is only one piece of the package. According to the Fontana Planning Commission file, the update also would refine outdoor-dining rules for the public right-of-way and adjust the city’s No Net Loss housing-unit bank rules.

The outdoor-dining changes matter for businesses that want to use sidewalk space or nearby public areas for seating. Clearer rules can help reduce confusion for operators and the city when restaurants are trying to expand service into the street-facing parts of downtown.

The housing-bank revision is part of the same ordinance package, though the biggest immediate local impact is likely to come from the parking and outdoor-dining pieces. Together, the changes suggest Fontana is trying to make downtown development work better in a more compact, mixed-use setting.

That does not mean every downtown business will lose parking requirements. The proposal is limited to certain uses and to locations near public parking. The city is not rewriting parking rules for the whole community.

Why it matters for residents and businesses

For residents, the practical effect could be more restaurant and retail activity downtown without the same pressure to cover every parcel with private parking. That can support a street environment that is easier to walk, and it may make it simpler for the city to keep downtown parcels focused on buildings, storefronts and public space rather than surface lots.

For local business owners, the biggest upside is predictability. A clearer downtown parking model can make it easier to plan a new concept, open an expansion or lease a space in an area that the city wants to activate.

The tradeoff is that public parking has to do more work. If more businesses cluster downtown, the city will need to keep an eye on how well its shared parking supply serves restaurants, retail and entertainment uses at busy times.

That part of the outcome is still unknown. The proposal may change the shape of downtown development, but the exact effect on parking demand, traffic and activity will depend on what the City Council approves next and how projects are built afterward.

For now, the key point is simple: Fontana is moving another step toward a downtown model built around shared parking, walkability and mixed-use growth, rather than requiring every project to provide its own private parking supply.

Sources

• Fontana Planning Commission file 26-0850 legislation details
• Fontana Planning Commission meeting details for April 21, 2026
• City of Fontana Forge District downtown renaissance page
• IE Community News report on Stage Red and downtown nightlife plans
• Inland Valley News report on Fontana's 2026 State of the City