Taylor Farms Lettuce Recall Amid the Largest U.S. Cyclospora Outbreak

A multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis has sickened thousands of Americans. Federal investigators traced it to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico. On July 17 the company voluntarily recalled all iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico, affecting food-service chains such as Taco Bell and retail bags sold under the Marketside brand at Walmart in 27 states.

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Cyclospora infections usually rise in spring-summer; this surge began on May 13, 2026 and has far exceeded the typical 200–1,000 annual cases. The CDC reports 1,645 confirmed cases since May 1, 2026, while state health departments have logged nearly 7,000 confirmed and suspected cases as of July 13, 2026. Hospitalizations exceed 100, with no deaths reported.

CNN

• May 13, 2026 – First illnesses reported.

CNBC

• July 17 – Taylor Farms announces voluntary recall of all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico.

SupplyChainDive

• July 18 – FDA posts a preliminary positive test for Cyclospora in a Taylor Farms sample.

The Tennessean

• July 20 – More than 30 states report ongoing cases; Michigan alone records over 6,500.

The Hill

• Nationwide cases: ~7,000 (CDC confirmed + state-reported probable).

Newsweek

• Hospitalizations: ~100 + (Michigan 102, Ohio 86, Illinois 28).

The Hill

• Recall scope: 25 shredded lettuce and salad-mix products, shipped to 27 states between June 29 and July 16; “Best if Used By” dates range from July 18 through Aug 3.

Indianapolis Star

• The company pledged to work with health authorities and to cease sourcing Mexican iceberg lettuce for the remainder of the growing season.

SupplyChainDive

• U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Asserted the outbreak is “under control” and that the source has been identified, while defending the agency’s surveillance program.

CNBC

• False-positive vs. ongoing suspicion: The FDA’s retraction of the positive test leaves a factual gap—no laboratory confirmation exists, yet epidemiological data still point to Taylor Farms lettuce.

CBS News

• Case-count discrepancies: CDC’s confirmed tally (?1,645) differs markedly from state-reported totals (?7,000), reflecting divergent inclusion of probable cases.

The Hill

• International dispute: Mexico’s Health Minister David Kershenobich stated there is “no evidence” the outbreak originated in Guanajuato, contradicting U.S. agency assessments.

Al Jazeera (website)

• “The FDA has regulations in place for what food producers are supposed to be doing, but nobody wants to do it—because it's expensive and difficult,” — Marion Nestle, food-policy expert

Wired Magazine

• “It’s important to note that the reevaluation of the sample does not alter the data supporting the outbreak advisory that prompted the current voluntary recall,” — Donald Prater, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Food (FDA)

FDA says recall on Taylor Farms lettuce remains active despite ‘false positive’

• “The response is being hampered by the loss of specialized staff and the loss of hands-on-deck needed to identify the source of the outbreaks,” — Dr. Joel Barratt, Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security

FDA says recall on Taylor Farms lettuce remains active despite ‘false positive’

Federal officials say the investigation will continue to test additional produce, irrigation water, and soil from the implicated fields. Taylor Farms has committed to cooperating with authorities and to monitoring its supply chain for the remainder of the season.

Newsweek