Federal health officials are narrowing the focus of their investigation into the massive cyclospora outbreak, with evidence converging on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms. The parasite, which causes severe gastrointestinal distress, has sickened thousands across multiple states.
Donald Prater, acting deputy commissioner for food at the FDA, said Monday that the agency's traceback investigation and outbreak data are increasingly pointing to shredded iceberg lettuce produced at a Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico. The FDA's probe is ongoing, but Prater emphasized that consumers should avoid the implicated products.
On Sunday, the FDA announced that one sample from the facility had initially tested positive for cyclospora, but a subsequent test proved to be a false positive. Despite the retraction, officials maintain that the lettuce remains a suspect. This development was covered in our earlier report on the FDA retracting its lettuce recall test result.
Recall Details and Affected Products
Taylor Farms initiated a recall on Friday of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, pulling the products from store shelves. However, the lettuce was still available for sale as recently as Thursday across dozens of states, including at Walmart under the Marketside brand. Some best-by dates extend to August 3, meaning consumers may still have the contaminated lettuce in their refrigerators.
The FDA is urging consumers to inspect their salad and lettuce purchases from last week to ensure they are not sourced from Taylor Farms de Mexico of Guanajato, Mexico. The following products were sold in grocery stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia:
- 12-ounce and 24-ounce Iceberg Salad with best-by dates between July 18 and August 3
- 8-ounce and 16-ounce Shredded Lettuce with best-by dates between July 18 and August 3
If consumers find these products, they should dispose of them or return them to the store. An additional 33 types of lettuce have been recalled across more states, but those were distributed to food service industry customers and are unlikely to be in home refrigerators. The full list is available on the FDA website.
Last week, the CDC also warned consumers to avoid shredded lettuce from Taco Bell in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Taco Bell confirmed on Friday that it had removed all Taylor Farms lettuce from its supply chain. This has led to legal action, as three Ohio residents have sued Taco Bell and its lettuce supplier over the outbreak.
Which Lettuce Is Still Safe?
So far, only Taylor Farms' shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico has been identified as a suspect. No other types of lettuce—such as romaine or butter lettuce—have been implicated, even those distributed by Taylor Farms. The company told Newsweek that no other Taylor Fresh Foods products across the country are affected.
Consumer Reports advises that locally sourced produce, such as from farmers' markets, may carry lower risk, though any produce could theoretically be contaminated if the water source is tainted. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for Michigan, recommends an even more cautious approach: avoid bagged lettuce or premade salad mixes, and instead buy whole-head lettuce, remove the outer leaves, and wash the rest thoroughly.
Health experts continue to advise best practices for produce consumption, including thorough washing, peeling when possible, and cooking foods to 158 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the parasite. The outbreak continues to expand, with cases topping 1,600 across 34 states.
