Full Breakdown
Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Taco Bell Lettuce Expands to Four More States
7/25/2026, 1:54:45 AM
Expanded Scope of the Outbreak
Federal health officials announced that the cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell now includes Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. The investigation had previously identified five states—Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1,947 people have been linked to the Taco Bell lettuce, of whom at least 98 required hospitalization. No deaths have been recorded.
Ongoing Investigation and Source Tracing
The CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state health departments are tracing the lettuce supply chain and interviewing individuals about foods consumed in the two weeks before illness onset. FDA officials continue to focus on lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, a grower in central Mexico, and the company has recalled iceberg lettuce from that region. Mexican health officials later reported that the parasite was not detected in the lettuce or water at the Taylor Farms facility in Guanajuato.
Scale of the Nationwide Outbreak
Since May 1, the CDC has received reports of more than 4,100 laboratory-confirmed cyclospora cases and is investigating over 7,400 additional likely cases across 41 states, setting a U.S. record for the pathogen. In a separate development, the FDA announced an investigation of a distinct cyclospora cluster affecting 72 people, though the implicated products have not yet been identified.
Official Agency Statements
The CDC emphasized that the official case count likely underestimates the true number of illnesses because not all cases are reported. The FDA reiterated its focus on the Taylor Farms supply and its commitment to monitoring the situation.
Public-Health Impact
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that contaminates food exposed to human feces, often through irrigation or washing with contaminated water. Ingestion leads to intestinal illness characterized by frequent, sometimes explosive bowel movements. Health officials stress the importance of continued surveillance, proper food-handling practices, and public awareness to limit further spread.
