Taylor Farms announced a recall of potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce distributed across 27 U.S. states on Friday, including products shipped as recently as Thursday. The move follows a rising number of cyclosporiasis cases, a parasitic illness linked to contaminated produce.
Health officials anticipate at least two weeks of continued case reports, as infections may have occurred in recent days. The outbreak investigation is ongoing and may expand to include additional products in the coming days.
The recall affects lettuce from Taylor Farms’ Guanajuato facility in Mexico, which is distributed in 27 states. However, the company did not specify brand names or retail locations, complicating efforts by stores, restaurants, and consumers to identify at-risk products. Major retailers like Costco, Target, and Walmart carry Taylor Farms products, which also include organic brands such as Earthbound Farm.
At least 34 states have reported cyclosporiasis cases, with New York and Colorado experiencing higher-than-usual numbers despite not being listed in the recall. While only shredded iceberg lettuce is currently recalled, other products processed at the same facility may also be contaminated. Additionally, nearby producers could face risks if they used shared contaminated water sources.
Taco Bell preemptively halted produce service in several states before the FDA issued a warning against consuming shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico at locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The FDA noted that the investigation is ongoing and may expand to include additional brands, retailers, or distribution channels.
The FDA has linked over 1,600 cases to the recalled product, with Michigan alone reporting more than 5,000 infections. By comparison, the U.S. recorded 249 cyclosporiasis cases nationwide during the entire summer of 2023.
Taylor Farms executives met with White House and FDA officials to address the outbreak. The company did not respond to inquiries regarding the lack of specific product details, the timeline of contamination awareness, or potential risks from other items.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. acknowledged during a podcast that cyclospora outbreaks occur annually. However, he did not address the current outbreak’s severity or the possibility of further product recalls. Michigan officials first identified lettuce as a potential source on Monday, and the FDA confirmed ongoing traceback investigations into multiple produce items.
Taylor Farms has a history of foodborne illness outbreaks, including a 2013 cyclospora incident tied to restaurants like Olive Garden and Red Lobster, and a 2024 E. coli outbreak linked to its slivered onions at McDonald’s.
