Taylor Farms began voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market on July 17, 2026. The move follows federal investigations linking the supplier’s shredded iceberg lettuce to a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak that affected Taco Bell restaurants in five states and sickened thousands of people.
Federal health officials confirmed Thursday that shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants was a primary link in a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak, confirming key findings first reported by The Washington Post. The parasite, which causes diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,
according to the CDC, has sparked one of the largest U.S. outbreaks of the illness this summer.
Taylor Farms and the Central Mexico Supply Chain
The Salinas, California-based Taylor Farms announced it would pull all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico indefinitely after the FDA provided traceback information. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the company wrote, Based on information provided yesterday by the FDA, Taylor Farms de Mexico is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market.
While the company noted that the FDA’s findings point to a specific independent farm, which represents less than 1% of the U.S.’s iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source of the outbreak,
the company opted for a broader regional removal to ensure safety.
“As a family owned and operated company, we are deeply concerned for those who became ill, their families, and the many Americans whose trust in the safety of their fresh produce has been shaken,” Taylor Fresh Foods statement, via People
Taylor Fresh Foods clarified that its branded salad kits do not contain iceberg lettuce, meaning those specific products are not impacted by the recall. The company stated that trust is something they have worked for decades to earn
and they are committed to doing everything in our power to restore that confidence,
adding that they will provide continuous updates as new information emerges.
Taco Bell’s Response and Regional Impact
Taco Bell worked with public health officials to remove the affected Taylor Farms lettuce from its restaurants and nationwide supply chain. By July 17, the chain confirmed it had completed the removal process. The contaminated lettuce was distributed to Taco Bell locations in five specific states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
“Based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell worked swiftly to voluntarily remove the product from restaurants and the affected ingredient has been removed from our supply chain nationwide. We took this action to ensure our guests can enjoy their Taco Bell favorites safely.” Taco Bell statement, via People
The company urged other retailers and foodservice operators to take similar precautionary actions, stating, We believe public health is a shared responsibility among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities, and we are proud to have consistently acted quickly and proactively to protect our guests.
This response follows previous CDC warnings that urged consumers in certain states to avoid eating lettuce from Taco Bell due to the cyclosporiasis links.
Cyclosporiasis Case Counts and Geographic Spread
The 2026 outbreak is characterized as the largest in recent years, with infections recorded in 30 states. However, the reported number of cases varies by source due to differing reporting standards and processing times between state and federal authorities.
| Reporting Source | Estimated Case Count/Scope |
|---|---|
| People | Nearly 7,000 cases nationwide |
| DW.com | 1,645 people in five states (Taco Bell specific); ~5,000 in Michigan |
Michigan has emerged as the hardest-hit region, reporting the highest number of cases, with state authorities recording around 5,000 infections. The CDC describes cyclosporiasis as a foodborne parasite that is rarely life-threatening and generally treated with antibiotics. The CDC noted that bagged salad mixes and other fresh produce—including from Taylor Farms—have led to cyclospora outbreaks in the past.
Financial Stakes and Market Confidence
The outbreak arrives during a period of growth for Taco Bell, which saw 8% growth in same-store sales for restaurants open at least a year during the first quarter. The chain has also been preparing further expansion in Europe, including plans to enter Germany and Poland by late 2026. Ari Felhandler, an analyst at Morningstar, stated that the outbreak will likely dent (Taco Bell’s) near-term same-store sales growth.
Historical data suggests that foodborne illness can significantly undermine consumer trust. For example, following an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s food in 2024, the company’s sales tumbled by 1.4% in the last quarter of the year, despite previously recording growth.
The CDC continues to investigate whether other contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market, warning that other brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels
could still be connected to the cyclospora outbreak.
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