Taylor Farms has launched a recall of iceberg lettuce distributed across 27 states after federal investigators linked shredded lettuce supplied to some Taco Bell restaurants to a multistate Cyclospora outbreak involving more than 1,600 illnesses.
The recall extends well beyond the five states where outbreak cases tied to Taco Bell have been identified. It covers selected retail and food-service lettuce sourced from central Mexico and distributed between June 29 and July 16, 2026.
What is being recalled?
Taylor Farms de Mexico of Guanajuato is removing all implicated iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico because it may be contaminated with Cyclospora cayetanensis.
The recall includes shredded iceberg lettuce, chopped lettuce, iceberg salad mixes and several iceberg-and-romaine blends. Many affected products were supplied in large bags to restaurants, cafeterias and other food-service customers.
The consumer-facing products listed by the FDA include:
- Marketside Iceberg Salad in 12-ounce and 24-ounce packages, with “Best if Used By” dates from July 18 through August 3, 2026.
- Marketside Shredded Lettuce in 8-ounce and 16-ounce packages, with dates from July 18 through August 3, 2026.
Affected food-service labels or identifiers include CV, JB, MARK, PK, SUB, SY and TF. Products include 1/8-inch, 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch shredded lettuce; chopped lettuce; salad mixes; and 50/50, 70/30 and 80/20 lettuce-and-romaine blends.
Depending on the product, listed use-by dates range from July 16 through August 3. Restaurants and consumers should use the FDA’s complete Taylor Farms product list to check descriptions, package sizes and dates.
Which 27 states are affected?
The recalled lettuce was distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
These are distribution states, not a list of states with confirmed outbreak cases. A product may have reached a restaurant or retailer in a state without any illness being reported there.
Which Taco Bell locations are involved?
The confirmed outbreak investigation centres on shredded iceberg lettuce served at certain Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
Not every Taco Bell in those states received the implicated product. However, the restaurant chain removed shredded iceberg lettuce from its supply chain nationwide as a precaution and said replacement lettuce would be introduced.
Customers in the five outbreak states are advised not to eat Taco Bell menu items containing shredded iceberg lettuce until the affected supply has been replaced.
How many people have become ill?
At least 1,644 people reporting Taco Bell exposure have been included in the five-state investigation. Of those, 94 were hospitalised. No deaths have been reported.
Illnesses began between May 13 and July 13, 2026. Officials warn that the number may rise because Cyclospora symptoms can take days or weeks to appear, and people with milder illness may not seek medical care or testing.
These figures should not be confused with the CDC’s broader national Cyclospora surveillance data. Health officials are investigating other infections and clusters that have not been linked to Taylor Farms or Taco Bell.
How investigators traced the lettuce
Public-health teams interviewed patients and reviewed the individual ingredients in meals eaten before they became ill. Michigan officials collected detailed food histories from 190 people who reported eating at Taco Bell, and approximately 90% said they had consumed iceberg lettuce.
The FDA’s traceback work found that restaurants visited by patients had received lettuce from a single supplier, Taylor Farms de Mexico. Taylor Farms said investigators traced the concern to one independent farm in central Mexico, representing less than 1% of the iceberg lettuce supplied to the United States.
The company stopped accepting products from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of affected central Mexican lettuce and began notifying customers. The FDA and state agencies are collecting samples for laboratory analysis, while federal officials have increased screening of implicated produce at the border.
Are Taylor Farms salad kits included?
Taylor Farms said its branded salad kits and packaged salads are not linked to this outbreak. Consumers should not assume that every Taylor Farms item is recalled. Only products matching the official descriptions, labels and date ranges should be discarded or returned.
The product-specific nature of this action is similar to the recent Publix frozen blueberry recall involving a particular lot code, where shoppers were advised to compare identifying information before throwing food away.
What is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis. People generally become infected after consuming contaminated food or water.
The most common symptom is frequent watery diarrhoea. Other symptoms can include:
- Loss of appetite and sudden weight loss
- Stomach pain or cramps
- Bloating and increased gas
- Nausea and fatigue
- Vomiting, headache, fever or body aches
Symptoms may appear from two days to two weeks after exposure. They can last for several weeks and may appear to improve before returning. Untreated illness can cause dehydration, while people with weakened immune systems may experience longer or more serious complications.
What should people do if they ate the lettuce?
Eating recalled lettuce does not mean a person will necessarily become ill. Consumers should monitor for symptoms and contact a healthcare provider if they develop persistent or recurring diarrhoea.
Patients should mention their possible exposure to iceberg lettuce and ask about specific Cyclospora testing. Routine stool examinations do not always screen for this parasite. Cyclosporiasis is commonly treated with the prescription combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, although treatment decisions should be made by a healthcare professional.
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How to dispose of recalled products safely
Consumers should not eat affected lettuce, even when it looks and smells normal. Place it in a sealed bag before discarding it, or return it to the retailer for a full refund.
Checking the exact label, date and package information is also important in other active food alerts, including the Class I potato chip recall involving a possible Salmonella risk.
Wash hands after handling the package. Clean and sanitise refrigerator shelves, drawers, containers, cutting boards and utensils that may have touched the lettuce to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Taylor Farms’ customer-care team can be reached at 855-455-0098, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time. The investigation remains open as officials determine whether affected lettuce reached additional restaurants, institutions or retailers.
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