Taylor Farms Recalls Iceberg Lettuce in 27 States After Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens Thousands

Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily recalled shredded iceberg lettuce distributed across 27 U.S. states on Friday after federal investigators linked the product to a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic stomach illness that has sickened as many as 7,000 Americans since May.

The Food and Drug Administration confirmed Saturday that a sample of iceberg lettuce from Mexico, supplied by Taylor Farms, tested positive for Cyclospora cayetanensis, the microscopic parasite responsible for the illness.

The outbreak has been confirmed in 34 states, with 1,644 cases laboratory-confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Friday. No deaths have been reported.

The recall is more expansive than federal guidance initially suggested, and that gap has drawn sharp criticism. While the FDA and CDC directed consumers only in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia to avoid Taco Bell lettuce, Taylor Farms’ own recall covers 27 states, including grocery store products in states that received no public advisory. Food safety attorney Bill Marler called the discrepancy alarming, warning that 22 states received recalled products without any warning.

What Products Are Recalled and Who Is Affected

Taylor Farms said the recalled shredded iceberg lettuce was distributed between June 29 and July 16, 2026, to restaurants and retailers across 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, and Wisconsin. In a statement, the company said:

“While the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm, which represents less than 1% of the U.S.’s iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source of the outbreak, we have removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely. No other Taylor Fresh Foods products across the country are impacted.”

Taco Bell said it completed the removal of all affected Taylor Farms lettuce from its restaurants and nationwide supply chain on July 17. Walmart announced Saturday it was removing four Marketside bagged iceberg lettuce salad products from stores in more than two dozen states as a precaution.

“Although there is no indication that products sold in our stores are affected by the current Cyclospora investigations, we have removed four bagged iceberg lettuce salad products from select locations as a precaution after receiving notice from our supplier,” Walmart said in a statement, adding there were no confirmed illnesses associated with its products.

Jack in the Box separately said recalled lettuce that had been distributed to its Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana locations, and it immediately removed the items and replaced them with a domestic supply.

What Is Cyclospora and What Should You Do

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, characterized by severe, persistent watery diarrhea, nausea, cramping, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Symptoms typically begin one to two weeks after ingestion and can last weeks to months without treatment. The illness is treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. It is not spread person to person. The FDA said in a statement:

“They are currently working to identify whether any part of this implicated lot is available in commerce or in consumers’ homes.”

Food safety attorney Bill Marler, who has represented outbreak victims for more than 30 years, called the gap between the FDA’s five-state advisory and Taylor Farms’ 27-state recall unacceptable. “FDA Finally Posted the Iceberg Recall.

It is Taylor Farms’ Announcement, Word for Word, With No Lot Codes and No Customer Names,” Marler wrote on his food safety blog Saturday, urging the FDA to publish complete lot codes and a full list of retailers immediately.

Consumers who have purchased any shredded iceberg lettuce produced in central Mexico should discard it immediately and not eat it. Taylor Farms’ customer care line is 855-455-0098. A full list of affected products, lot codes, and use-by dates is available at taylorfarms.com/recall.