Taylor Farms de Mexico is recalling all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and distributed across 27 states, citing potential contamination with Cyclospora, the parasite at the center of a multistate outbreak tied to Taco Bell restaurants.
The voluntary recall covers products distributed June 29–July 16 and is linked to 1,644 confirmed illnesses across 5 states
Benjamin Fanjoy / Getty Images
Taylor Farms de Mexico is recalling all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and distributed across 27 states, citing potential contamination with Cyclospora, the parasite at the center of a multistate outbreak tied to Taco Bell restaurants.
The recall covers products distributed from 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, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin, the company said. The recall was announced July 17.
Most of the affected products were distributed through food service channels under brand abbreviations including CV, JB, MARK, and SY. The recall also includes two consumer-facing retail items sold under the Marketside brand at select Walmart $WMT stores: Iceberg Salad in 12-oz and 24-oz sizes and Shredded Lettuce in 8-oz and 16-oz sizes, both with best-if-used-by dates between July 18 and Aug. 3, 2026, the FDA said.
The recall was prompted by a multistate Cyclospora outbreak investigation that identified Taylor Farms de Mexico as the supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The CDC and FDA reported 1,644 confirmed illnesses and 94 hospitalizations across those five states, with no deaths. Taco Bell said it stopped using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as of July 17.
The FDA's traceback investigation had converged on a single supplier, and 90% of the 190 interviewed Taco Bell customers who fell ill reported eating iceberg lettuce, according to the FDA. The investigation remains ongoing, and the agency said additional states, retailers, or restaurants may be added as more information becomes available.
Taylor Fresh Foods said it has finished executing the recall and cleared affected products from the market, and it confirmed it will not purchase iceberg lettuce from central Mexico again until the growing season ends. The company added that no Taylor Farms branded products are involved in the recall.
As Quartz previously reported on the false positive finding, an FDA lab result that identified Cyclospora in a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce on July 18 was later retracted. The FDA concluded the result "does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive" and notified Taylor Farms. As of July 19, the FDA said no confirmed positive product test results for Cyclospora exist, though the recall remains in effect and the agency continues collecting and analyzing samples.
The CDC lists watery diarrhea, appetite loss, abdominal cramping, bloating, and fatigue among the hallmark signs of Cyclospora infection. Onset can range from roughly two days to as long as two weeks after exposure, and untreated illness may linger for a month or more.
Anyone who bought a recalled product should throw it away rather than eating it. Full refunds are available at the point of purchase. Those with questions can contact Taylor Farms' customer care line at 855-455-0098, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.
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