Taylor Farms has recalled shredded iceberg lettuce distributed across 27 states due to potential Cyclospora contamination as cases of cyclosporiasis rise.
Key facts
- •The recall involves shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from a Taylor Farms facility in Guanajuato, Mexico.
- •At least 34 states have reported cases of cyclosporiasis during this outbreak.
- •The FDA has specifically advised against eating lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in five states.
- •Michigan has confirmed more than 5,000 cases of the illness, significantly exceeding the national total of 249 cases reported last summer.
- •Taylor Farms has previously been linked to foodborne illness outbreaks, including a 2013 Cyclospora outbreak and an October 2024 E. coli outbreak.
Taylor Farms issued a recall on Friday for shredded iceberg lettuce produced at its facility in Guanajuato, Mexico, due to potential contamination with the parasite Cyclospora. The recall affects products distributed across 27 states, including items shipped as recently as Thursday. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently investigating the outbreak, which has seen reported cases in at least 34 states.
By the numbers
Scope of the Recall and Investigation
Taylor Farms has not specified the brand names of the affected products or identified the specific stores and restaurants where they were sold, a move that may complicate efforts for consumers and retailers to identify contaminated items. The FDA has warned against consuming shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, though the agency noted that additional implicated brands and retailers may be identified as the investigation continues.
Rising Case Numbers
The current outbreak has seen a significant increase in cyclosporiasis cases compared to previous years. While the FDA identified more than 1,600 cases linked to the product, individual states are reporting higher figures; Michigan alone has confirmed more than 5,000 cases. By comparison, the entire United States recorded 249 confirmed cases during the summer of last year.
Timeline
- MondayOfficials in Michigan first identified lettuce as a possible source of the outbreak.
- TuesdayFDA acting deputy commissioner Dr. Donald Prater confirmed the agency was investigating lettuce as part of a traceback.
- FridayTaylor Farms issued a recall for shredded iceberg lettuce and the FDA issued a warning regarding Taco Bell locations.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Guardian Health.
