FDA ties cyclospora outbreak to Taylor Farms lettuce at Taco Bell

A multistate surge in cyclosporiasis, the parasitic infection marked by prolonged watery diarrhea, has been traced to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants. The link prompted immediate removal of the product from affected locations and raised questions about wider distribution of the same supplier's greens.

On July 16 the Food and Drug Administration stated that a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico, used at Taco Bell outlets in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, accounted for 1,644 confirmed cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 1,645 confirmed cases across 34 states as of July 13, along with 141 hospitalizations and no deaths. Michigan alone reported more than 4,300 cases. A person familiar with the matter identified the supplier as Taylor Farms, which also sells bagged salads to Walmart, Costco, Target, Chipotle, and McDonald's.

The investigation remains open. The FDA noted that other sources may still be identified, and the true number of illnesses is believed to exceed confirmed counts because many people do not seek testing. Taylor Farms has not issued a recall for the implicated lettuce and listed no active recalls on its website as of July 18. Taco Bell said it removed the lettuce from its supply chain nationwide.

Cyclospora cayetanensis requires specific laboratory methods for detection and genetic matching. Former CDC parasitologist Joel Barratt stated that the agency's dedicated cyclospora laboratory was reduced from 11 staff to three after 2025 workforce reductions. The CDC has not released updated throughput data for the lab. Health experts recommend cooking produce to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit, as washing does not reliably remove the parasite.

Taylor Farms faced prior recalls for onions linked to E. coli in 2024 and salmonella in 2020. No connection between those events and the current outbreak has been established by regulators.