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Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17, 2026, after the FDA and CDC linked it to a cyclospora parasite outbreak affecting thousands across the U.S. The recalled products include shredded iceberg lettuce and iceberg salad kits sold at re
Taylor Farms is recalling iceberg lettuce shipped to 27 U.S. states because of potential contamination with cyclospora, a parasite that causes prolonged diarrhea and gastrointestinal illness. The recall was initiated on July 17, 2026, covering all iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico that was identified as the potential source of the outbreak. Taylor Farms has stated that no Taylor Farms–branded products are involved — only products grown and processed at its Mexican subsidiary.
If you have purchased iceberg lettuce recently, keep reading. This outbreak is large, fast-moving, and still under active investigation.
Epidemiologic and traceback data from the CDC and FDA show that shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, served at some Taco Bell locations, is contaminated with cyclospora and is making people sick. As of mid-July 2026, a total of 1,644 people infected with cyclospora and reporting exposure to Taco Bell had been reported across five states, with 94 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported.
The outbreak's timeline moved quickly. By early July 2026, Michigan had become the epicenter, with case counts climbing into the hundreds. On July 9, Taco Bell pulled fresh produce from restaurants in affected states. By July 14, the CDC had issued a Health Alert Network advisory reporting 1,645 confirmed and more than 5,100 probable cases nationwide.
FDA's traceback investigation identified convergence on a single supplier — Taylor Farms de Mexico — that provided shredded iceberg lettuce used across the supply chain.
The recall includes Marketside-brand products available at Walmart: 12 oz and 24 oz Iceberg Salad with "Best if Used By" dates of 7/18/2026 to 8/3/2026, and 8 oz and 16 oz Shredded Lettuce with "Best if Used By" dates of July 18 to August 3, 2026. Additional products were distributed to food service customers; a complete list including lot codes and use-by dates is available on Taylor Farms' recall notice.
The shredded iceberg product was distributed June 29 through July 16 in 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, and South Carolina, among others — 27 states in total.
If your product falls within these dates and states, do not eat it. Discard it or return it to the store where you purchased it for a full refund.
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite — a single-celled organism too small to see — that infects the small intestine. It is not a bacterium or a virus. That distinction matters, because it behaves differently from the pathogens behind most food recalls.
People with cyclosporiasis may experience watery diarrhea, cramping, and bloating for weeks. Cyclosporiasis is not usually spread directly from person to person; instead, people become infected by consuming contaminated food or water.
What makes cyclospora particularly disruptive is the relapsing pattern of illness. Symptoms may seem to improve, then return — sometimes for a month or more without treatment. Many people don't connect their prolonged stomach symptoms to something they ate weeks earlier.
[REVIEWER: add clinical insight here — e.g., how cyclosporiasis presents versus other foodborne illnesses in a clinical setting, and when to escalate to hospitalization.]
Symptoms can include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps and pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache, and fever may also occur.
Most healthy adults recover with treatment, but the illness can be more severe in older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. If you have eaten recalled lettuce and developed these symptoms — especially prolonged or relapsing diarrhea — contact your healthcare provider. Mention the recall and your potential exposure; this helps your doctor order the right test.
Standard stool tests do not detect cyclospora. Your provider will need to order a specific Cyclospora PCR or acid-fast stool test — so being upfront about what you ate is important.
The investigation has one notable wrinkle worth understanding. The FDA retracted its July 18 finding that Taylor Farms lettuce tested positive for cyclospora, later describing it as a false positive and apologizing to the company. However, the FDA and CDC stated this does not change the investigation, which continues to rest on epidemiologic and traceback evidence, and the recall remains active.
In plain terms: the outbreak is real, the epidemiological link to the lettuce is established, and the recall stands — even though one specific lab test was walked back.
The primary five-state cluster of Taco Bell–linked cases covers Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. However, the distribution of recalled lettuce reached 27 states, meaning people in states beyond those five may also have been exposed through retail purchases.
As of late July 2026, 4,173 people with cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States since May 1, 2026 had been identified by the CDC — with the true number likely higher, since some people recover without seeking medical care and are never tested.
Do not eat recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, whether purchased at a retail store or served at a restaurant. If you purchased recalled lettuce, throw it out or return it to the store.
Full refunds are available at the location of purchase. Consumers with questions can contact Taylor Farms' customer care team at 855-455-0098, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST
If you feel sick, call your doctor. Don't wait for symptoms to resolve on their own — cyclospora infections are treatable with the right medication, but require a prescription.
[REVIEWER: add clinical insight here — e.g., typical treatment course for cyclosporiasis and what patients should expect in terms of recovery timeline.]
Is Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce still available to buy?
Taylor Farms has stopped sourcing iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico for the remainder of the growing season and completed the removal of recalled products from the marketplace. Other Taylor Farms products not grown in central Mexico are not part of the recall. Check packaging carefully for origin and use-by dates before consuming any iceberg lettuce purchased in recent weeks.
What are the symptoms of cyclospora infection?
The hallmark symptom is prolonged, watery diarrhea — often lasting weeks and sometimes relapsing after a brief improvement. Other symptoms include stomach cramps, nausea, bloating, fatigue, and loss of appetite. If you experience these symptoms after eating recalled lettuce, contact your doctor and mention your potential exposure.
How is cyclospora treated?
Cyclosporiasis is treated with prescription antibiotics. See a doctor if you suspect infection — do not attempt to self-treat with over-the-counter remedies, which will not clear the parasite.
Was Taco Bell involved in the recall?
The recall came amid an escalating outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to lettuce from certain Taco Bell restaurants. Taco Bell pulled fresh produce from affected locations in early July. The restaurant chain was not the source of the contamination — the issue traces back to the lettuce supplied to it by Taylor Farms de Mexico.
How do I know if my lettuce is part of the recall?
Check for Marketside-brand Iceberg Salad (12 oz or 24 oz) or Shredded Lettuce (8 oz or 16 oz) with "Best if Used By" dates between July 18 and August 3, 2026. If your product matches these details, discard it and do not eat it. When in doubt, throw it out.
Discard any iceberg lettuce purchased at retail — particularly Marketside-brand products from Walmart — with "Best if Used By" dates between July 18 and August 3, 2026. If you ate recalled lettuce and now have stomach symptoms that aren't resolving, call your doctor and ask specifically about cyclospora testing. The illness is treatable, but only once properly diagnosed.
5. Sources
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Cyclospora Outbreak Investigation, July 2026:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — Investigation of 5-State Outbreak of Cyclospora Illnesses: Iceberg Lettuce (July 2026)
Taylor Farms — Official Recall Notice & Statement:
CDC — Surveillance of Cyclosporiasis, July 2026:
7. Category
Food Safety / Public Health
8. Image Suggestion
A close-up shot of a pre-packaged shredded iceberg lettuce bag in a supermarket refrigerator case, with soft overhead lighting — realistic and uncluttered, clearly showing a product label with a "Best if Used By" date. No posed people, no styled salad bowls.
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