California vegetable giant Taylor Farms announced Friday it is pulling all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after federal investigators linked the product to a fast-spreading cyclosporiasis outbreak that has already sickened more than 1,600 people.
The company said in a statement that the voluntary recall covers all iceberg lettuce from the region, even though the Food and Drug Administration’s traceback points to a single independent farm that accounts for less than 1 percent of the U.S. iceberg lettuce supply. “We have removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely,” the company stated.
The move comes a day after Taco Bell said it was pulling lettuce from some of its restaurants as the FDA investigated Taylor Farms, one of the chain’s suppliers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1,644 people who ate at Taco Bell in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia fell ill between May 13 and July 13. Ninety-four of those cases required hospitalization.
Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic infection that can cause weeks of diarrhea, fatigue, and loss of appetite. While rarely fatal—no deaths have been reported in this outbreak—the CDC warns that cases may be severely underreported due to testing gaps. The agency is urging consumers who develop symptoms to contact their healthcare provider and report what they ate before getting sick.
Taylor Farms emphasized that its salad kits, which do not contain iceberg lettuce, are not linked to the outbreak. “We are committed to doing everything in our power to address this issue, support the ongoing investigation, and help restore trust,” the company said.
The CDC continues to advise against eating lettuce at Taco Bell locations in the five affected states. The outbreak has drawn renewed scrutiny to produce safety, with some experts questioning whether common practices like vinegar washes are sufficient to eliminate parasites like cyclospora.
