FDA Confirmed Cyclospora in Lettuce Not Covered by Taylor Farms’ Own Recall
The FDA announced on July 19, 2026, that a sample of iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms tested positive for Cyclospora, the parasite driving a foodborne illness outbreak that has hospitalized at least 94 people in the United States. The result came from targeted import surveillance the FDA conducted as part of its active investigation.
The detail that makes this finding serious: Taylor Farms confirmed the positive sample was taken from a product not included in its current voluntary recall. The company is now trying to determine whether any of that implicated lot is still in stores or in consumers’ homes.
94 people hospitalized from cyclosporiasis linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce as of July 19, 2026, with thousands more infected across at least five states.
The outbreak was first detected on May 13, 2026. Cyclospora symptoms can take up to two weeks to appear, which means cases may continue to emerge. Symptoms include watery diarrhea lasting for days, sudden weight loss, and loss of appetite. No deaths have been reported.
Recall Covers 27 States but Leaves Gaps Taylor Farms Is Still Mapping
Taylor Farms supplies iceberg lettuce to Taco Bell and has stopped receiving product from the implicated lot. The company issued a voluntary removal of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, and the FDA has since formalized a recall covering 27 states.
A recall carries legal weight that a voluntary removal does not. Under a recall, the company must notify customers and recover affected products from commerce, making it a broader corrective action with real enforcement teeth.
The recall also covers Marketside-branded iceberg lettuce sold at Walmart locations across 15 states. The CDC advises against eating shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Taco Bell says it has completed removal of the affected lettuce from its restaurants.
“Taylor Farms has confirmed that this positive product is not part of their current recall. They are currently working to identify whether any part of this implicated lot is available in commerce or in consumers’ homes.”
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, July 19, 2026
The distinction matters because product not covered by the recall faces no mandatory retrieval requirement, and the company has not yet confirmed how much of the implicated lot reached shelves.
What You Can Do Now
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Check the FDA’s full recall list at fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts and compare any iceberg lettuce in your home. If your product matches, do not eat it. Dispose of it and sanitize any surfaces it touched.
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Report illness to the FDA’s MedWatch program at fda.gov/safety/medwatch or call 1-800-332-1088. Reporting your case helps CDC and FDA track the outbreak’s full scope and identify gaps in the current recall.
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Contact your congressional representatives at (202) 224-3121 and ask them to support full funding for FDA import surveillance programs. The positive sample was caught through targeted surveillance, a program that faces recurring budget pressure.
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Contact your state health department if you live in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, or West Virginia and recently ate at Taco Bell. State epidemiologists are actively tracking cases and can connect you with testing if you have symptoms.
Sources
- FDA retracts claim that tainted lettuce caused 5-state outbreak of cyclospora illnesses — Colorado Sun (2026-07-20)
- FDA is still focused on lettuce supplier as source of parasite, despite faulty test result — PBS Headlines (2026-07-20)
BBC News: Taylor Farms Lettuce Tests Positive for Cyclospora Outside Its Recall FDA: Cyclospora Outbreak Investigation Linked to Taylor Farms Iceberg Lettuce CDC: Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Investigation, Taco Bell Locations Five States FDA: What Is a Recall and How Does It Differ from a Voluntary Removal