Investigation of 9-State Outbreak of Cyclospora Illnesses: Iceberg Lettuce (July 2026)
Do not eat recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
Product:
On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico, announced that they are voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market. On July 17, Taylor Farms initiated a recall, which includes Marketside-brand product available at Walmart described as “Iceberg Salad 12-oz or 24-oz” and “Shredded Lettuce 8-oz or 16-oz” with Best if Used By dates of 7/18/2026 to 8/3/2026 and July 18 to Aug 3, 2026, respectively. A complete list of other recalled products distributed to food service customers is included in the recall notice. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Symptoms of Cyclospora Infection
Most people infected with Cyclospora develop diarrhea, with frequent bowel movements. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache, and fever may be noted. Some people who are infected with Cyclospora do not have any symptoms. If not treated, the illness can lead to dehydration and severe complications that may require higher levels of care. These complications may last from a few days to a month or longer. Symptoms may seem to go away and then return one or more times (relapse). Immunocompromised persons may experience more severe illness of longer duration along with complications requiring close medical attention.
Stores affected:
Cases with Taco Bell exposure have been reported from 9 states: IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, OH, OK, PA, and WV.
Foodservice: Taylor Fresh Foods distributed recalled iceberg lettuce products from June 29th through July 16th in AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WI.
Retail Stores: Recalled Marketside-brand products were sold at select Walmart stores in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, OK, TN, TX, VA, WV.
Restaurants: Any Taco Bell locations that received recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. Taco Bell has indicated they are no longer using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as of July 17, 2026.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Status:
Ongoing
Recommendations:
- Consumers, restaurants, and retailers who purchased or received recalled iceberg lettuce distributed by Taylor Fresh Foods should discard it immediately and not consume it. Full refunds are also available at the location of purchase.
- If you have symptoms of cyclosporiasis, contact your health care provider to report symptoms and receive care, especially if you ate shredded iceberg lettuce in the two weeks before you got sick.
- If you purchased or received recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched.
- Consumers should follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
- Restaurants and retailers should follow FDA’s Food Safety Tips.
- Read FDA’s Cyclospora information for additional information about Cyclospora and what consumers, restaurants, and retailers can do.
Current Update
July 24, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico. The illnesses included in this outbreak are a subset of the Cyclospora infections identified nationwide. This outbreak now includes illnesses from 9 states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 1,947 people infected with Cyclospora and reporting exposure to Taco Bell have been reported by nine states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from June 22, 2026, to July 20, 2026. There have been at least 98 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported. This increase in cases is, in part, due to the identification and addition of four new states that are now considered part of this outbreak. We also expect to continue to see the number of confirmed cases rise, despite the recall, due to the fact that it can take as long as six weeks for CDC and state officials to determine if a sick person is part of this outbreak.
On July 19, 2026, FDA provided an update about a false positive sample collected at the border. To clarify, this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms. FDA’s traceback investigation and outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms from growers in central Mexico. We encourage the public to continue to avoid all products listed in Taylor Farms’ voluntary recall.
FDA will continue to work with federal and state partners to investigate this multistate outbreak and ensure products implicated in this outbreak have been removed from the market.
Case Count Map Provided by CDC
Product Distribution Map
Distribution of recalled products has been confirmed for states shown below. Because the investigation remains ongoing, additional implicated brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels may be identified, reaching additional states.
Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 1,947
Hospitalizations: 98
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: July 20, 2026
States with Cases: IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, OH, OK, PA, and WV
U.S. Product Distribution*: AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, and WV
*Distribution has been confirmed for states listed, but product may have been distributed further, reaching additional states
International Distribution
The Taylor Farms de Mexico recall impacts markets outside of the United States. Customer information provided by the firm shows that recalled product was sold to consumers in Mexico.
Previous Updates
July 19, 2026
FDA is providing an update regarding the sample of lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico which was reported positive on July 18, 2026. Due to the complexity in detection of Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive. Information about the sample has been removed from the July 18, 2026, update below. FDA has notified Taylor Farms and continues working with the firm to ensure product implicated in this outbreak has been removed from the market. FDA and state partners continue to collect and analyze product samples. As of July 19, 2026, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora.
July 18, 2026
On July 17, Taylor Farms de Mexico of Guanajuato, Mexico, announced that they are voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market. Taylor Fresh Foods’ recall notice included Marketside-brand product available at Walmart:
- 12-oz and 24-oz Iceberg Salad with Best if Used By dates 7/18/2026 to 8/3/2026
- 8-oz and 16-oz Shredded Lettuce with Best if Used By dates July 18th to Aug 3rd 2026
A complete list of affected products distributed to Taylor Fresh Foods food service customers including lot codes, use-by dates, and instructions for returning or disposing of the affected product is available on the company’s recall notice.
July 17, 2026
FDA’s traceback investigation identified convergence on a single supplier, Taylor Farms de Mexico, that provided shredded iceberg lettuce used by Taco Bell locations where sick people ate before becoming ill.
On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico announced that they are voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market. Taylor Farms also informed FDA that they would initiate a recall. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
July 16, 2026
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora illnesses linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The illnesses included in this outbreak are a subset of the Cyclospora illnesses identified nationwide.
Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 1,644 people infected with Cyclospora and reporting exposure to Taco Bell have been reported by five states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 13, 2026, to July 13, 2026. There have been 94 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported. MI analyzed food exposure details from 190 of the cases who reported eating at Taco Bell and shared these findings with CDC. Ingredient level analyses on meals eaten by these cases indicate that 90% of those interviewed reported eating iceberg lettuce.
FDA’s traceback investigation has identified convergence on a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico used by Taco Bell locations where sick people ate before becoming ill.
FDA is working directly with the identified supplier to determine if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market. As part of this investigation, FDA and state partners have initiated collection of product samples for testing and analysis. Additionally, FDA has increased screening at the border for products implicated in the outbreak.
FDA is also working with Taco Bell and they have committed to stop using any lettuce from the supplier identified by FDA’s traceback investigation.
FDA and state partners are actively investigating the source and scope of the contamination. Because the investigation remains ongoing, additional implicated brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels may be identified as the investigation continues. This advisory will be updated promptly as new information becomes available.
FDA is aware that the case counts in this advisory may not match what is being reported by individual states. State data may include both probable and confirmed cases, while CDC and FDA include confirmed cases only. State case counts may also include initial case reports that have not yet been reported to CDC. As cases are confirmed, these numbers will continue to update.
Additionally, 2026 national surveillance numbers reported by the CDC track laboratory-confirmed cases in the U.S. overall, which include this outbreak as well as illnesses that are not a part of this outbreak.
Who to Contact?
Consumers who have symptoms should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.
To report a complaint or adverse event (illness or serious allergic reaction),
visit Industry and Consumer Assistance.
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