Taylor Farms Lettuce Recall Expands to 27 States Amid Cyclospora Outbreak

Taylor Farms, a California-based food company, has expanded its voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico due to a potential link to a multistate cyclospora outbreak that has sickened people across the U.S. The company confirmed that 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products, sold under eight brand codes, were shipped to 27 states, including Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New Jersey. The recall, which includes products with "best by" dates as late as August 3, 2026, follows a CDC investigation into contamination linked to Taco Bell restaurants in five Midwestern states.

Health Officials and Taylor Farms' Response

U.S. health officials identified lettuce from a Mexican supplier as the source of cyclospora contamination in food served at Taco Bell restaurants. Taylor Farms has stopped sourcing lettuce from the implicated lot and is actively removing affected products. Sysco, the nation’s largest food distributor, has halted distribution of all Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce products sourced from Mexico and instructed customers to destroy them.

Product Recall and Distribution Network

■25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products were listed, though brand names and retailers were not disclosed.

■27 states, including major markets like Texas and Florida, received the recalled products with ship dates as recent as Thursday.

■Sysco has ceased distribution and ordered customers to dispose of the products immediately.

Cyclospora Outbreak Statistics

■In 2026, the CDC reports at least 1,645 people sickened and 141 hospitalized, with over 5,000 additional cases under investigation.

■Last year, only 249 cases were reported during the same period, marking a 568% increase in infections.

■The cyclospora parasite, which thrives in human fecal-contaminated water, causes severe intestinal illness with symptoms like frequent diarrhea and stomach cramps.

Taco Bell's Supply Chain Adjustments

■Taco Bell swiftly removed the implicated product from all restaurants and confirmed the ingredient has been eliminated from its national supply chain.

■The CDC initially warned against consuming shredded lettuce at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

■Events like the Fortune 500 Innovation Forum highlight how supply chain disruptions and food safety risks are becoming strategic economic concerns, impacting operational costs and consumer trust globally.