The USA Leaders
July 20, 2026
Federal health officials say a Cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico has affected multiple states, with 1,644 reported illnesses, 94 hospitalizations, and no deaths as of July 20, 2026. The FDA says the investigation is ongoing, and Taylor Farms says the recalled lettuce was distributed from June 29 through July 16 in 27 states.
This article explains what happened, which states are affected, and what you should do if you have this lettuce at home.
Quick Facts
| Category | Detail |
| What | A recall of shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico |
| Who | Taylor Farms de Mexico, distributed through Sysco and other suppliers |
| Where | 27 states, including Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New Jersey |
| Why | Contamination with Cyclospora cayetanensis, a parasite linked to unsafe water used in growing or washing produce |
| Cases so far | More than 1,644 confirmed illnesses nationwide, 94 hospital admissions, no reported deaths |
| Confirmed source | Iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia |
| Status | Active investigation |
What Happened: The Taylor Farms Lettuce Outbreak Timeline
On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico removed all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico from the U.S. market. The company informed the FDA that it would issue a formal recall. During its investigation, the FDA traced the outbreak to one supplier.
That supplier was linked to people who became sick after eating iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell. After confirming the connection, Taylor Farms quickly expanded the recall. It included 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products sold under eight brand names.
The affected products were shipped as recently as the previous Thursday and had best-by dates through August 3.
Which States Are Affected by the Taylor Farms Lettuce Recall
The recall includes more products than the reported illness cases. This shows Taylor Farms took a wider safety step instead of recalling only a small batch. The affected lettuce was shipped between June 29 and July 16 to 27 U.S. states.
The recalled products were sent to states including Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Texas, and Pennsylvania. California and New York are not part of the recall.
For the latest list of affected products and states, visit the FDA and CDC pages linked at the end of this article. The information may change as the investigation continues.
How to Check If Your Lettuce Is Part of the Recall
Three simple checks can help you find out if your lettuce is affected.
First, check the product type. The recall only includes shredded iceberg lettuce and bagged salad mixes, not whole heads of lettuce.
Second, look at the shipping and best-by dates. Affected products were shipped from late June to mid-July and have best-by dates up to August 3.
Third, ask your grocery store or retailer. Walmart removed some bagged iceberg lettuce from selected stores, while Sysco stopped selling affected Taylor Farms lettuce and told customers to throw it away.
If you’re not sure your product is safe, don’t eat it. Throw it away and clean any surfaces or containers it touched.
The Taco Bell Connection: How Investigators Found the Source
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention connected the outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Health officials in Michigan found that 90% of sick people had eaten iceberg lettuce before getting sick. This helped investigators identify the source of the outbreak.
Taco Bell removed the affected lettuce from restaurants in those states before Taylor Farms announced its recall. This quick action helped reduce the risk to customers.
Cyclospora Outbreak by the Numbers
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Here’s where the case count stands as of this update:
- More than 1,644 confirmed illnesses nationwide
- 94 hospital admissions
- No reported deaths
- Illness onset dates ranging from May 13 to July 13, 2026
After health officials found the source and removed it from stores, the number of new cases started to slow down. This is the expected result once the contaminated product is taken off the market.
Symptoms and When to See a Doctor
Most people with Cyclospora get diarrhea and need to use the bathroom often. They may also lose their appetite, lose weight, have stomach cramps, bloating, gas, or nausea, or feel very tired.
Some people may have vomiting, body aches, headaches, or a fever. Others may not have any symptoms.
Without treatment, symptoms can last for several days or even weeks. They may also come back after getting better. If you recently ate iceberg lettuce and have these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider and tell them about the possible exposure. Early treatment can help you recover faster and supports health officials in investigating the outbreak.
What Taylor Farms, Taco Bell, and Retailers Are Doing About It
Every link in the supply chain responded once the source was confirmed. Taylor Farms pulled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and issued a 25-product recall. Taco Bell removed the potentially impacted lettuce from restaurants in the affected states.
Walmart removed four bagged iceberg lettuce products from select locations. Sysco halted distribution of the implicated products and told customers to destroy them. One early test result deserves a note.
An FDA sample of Taylor Farms lettuce initially tested positive for cyclospora, but further review reclassified that result as a false positive. Outbreak investigations tend to get more accurate as more data comes in.
Which Lettuce Is Safe: Iceberg, Romaine, Leaf, and More
This recall applies specifically to shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. It does not cover romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, loose leaf lettuce, or whole-head iceberg lettuce grown in other regions.
Lettuce comes in different types. Iceberg lettuce has tightly packed, light green leaves. Romaine, green leaf, and red leaf lettuces have looser, darker green leaves with different textures.
All of them are common leafy greens found at any grocery store across North America, and choosing a different variety of lettuce this week is a simple way to keep salads on the menu.
Taylor Farms Lettuce Recipes and Nutrition
Unaffected lettuce products remain a normal, healthy choice. Lettuce is a low-calorie source of fiber, folate, and vitamin K, whether you’re building a green salad, a taco, or a wrap.
If you want to make Taylor Farms lettuce recipes without using recalled products, choose whole-head iceberg, romaine, or leaf lettuce instead. Wash and chop the lettuce yourself, then mix it with olive oil and a simple vinaigrette for the same fresh, crunchy taste.
Kitchen Safety Checklist for This Week
- Throw away any shredded iceberg lettuce included in the recall.
- Clean and sanitize any containers, cutting boards, or shelves that touched the lettuce.
- Do not wash recalled lettuce and eat it. Washing will not remove Cyclospora.
- If you want to be extra safe, buy whole-head lettuce instead of pre-shredded bags this week.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Recall Is a Food-Safety Win
It is easy to feel worried when seeing the case numbers. But this outbreak also shows how the food safety system works.
The CDC and FDA quickly found the source and linked the outbreak to one supplier. Taco Bell took action before the official recall, and Taylor Farms removed the affected products quickly. The number of cases has already started to decrease.
No deaths were reported, the source was identified, and the companies involved responded quickly to protect customers.
Conclusion
A Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce recall has been linked to a Taco Bell outbreak in several states, causing more than 1,600 illnesses and 94 hospitalizations. Other lettuce types and sources are not affected. People who feel sick after eating the recalled lettuce should contact a doctor and mention the possible food connection.
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Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you think you were exposed or have symptoms, please contact a healthcare provider.
