Lettuce Recall Follows Cyclospora Outbreak in U.S.
Taylor Fresh Foods has voluntarily recalled shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after an ongoing cyclospora outbreak sickened more than 1,600 people across the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging consumers to review the recall list and discard any affected products.
The recalled lettuce was distributed between June 29 and July 16 in 27 states, including 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.
Taylor Fresh Foods said it has stopped accepting shipments from the farm linked to the outbreak, suspended distribution of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, informed customers, and is cooperating with the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state health officials.
The recall includes Marketside-branded shredded lettuce sold at selected Walmart stores, along with products supplied to food service businesses.
Federal investigators have linked the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The FDA identified a single Mexican supplier as the source of the lettuce used at those locations. Taco Bell stated that it voluntarily removed potentially affected lettuce from selected restaurants as a precaution.
Health officials are also investigating additional cyclospora cases that may not be connected to the Taco Bell supply chain. As of the latest update, the CDC has confirmed more than 1,644 cases, 94 hospitalizations, and no deaths. While cyclospora infections occur every year, the number of reported cases has been unusually high this year.
Taylor Fresh Foods said the suspected lettuce came from one independent farm that represents less than 1% of the U.S. iceberg lettuce supply. Even so, the company has indefinitely stopped sourcing iceberg lettuce from the entire region as a precaution.
The company emphasized that no other Taylor Fresh Foods products are affected, and Taylor Farms branded salad kits do not contain iceberg lettuce. It also expressed concern for those who became ill and pledged to continue providing updates as the investigation progresses.
About Taylor Farms
Founded in 1995 by Bruce Taylor in Salinas, California, Taylor Farms is a family-owned company and one of the world’s largest producers of fresh vegetables, salads, and meal kits. It operates facilities across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, supplying grocery stores and restaurants. In 2019, the company acquired the Earthbound Farm salad brand from Danone.
Previous Recall
Taylor Farms was also involved in a major food safety incident in October 2024, when it voluntarily recalled raw onions linked to an E. coli outbreak associated with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder sandwiches. That outbreak resulted in 104 illnesses, 34 hospitalizations, and one death before it was declared over in December 2024.
