Massive Cyclospora Outbreak Tied to Taylor Farms Lettuce Expands Across 27 States

A Recall, a Positive Test, and Then a Twist

What started as a regional food safety alert has ballooned into one of the most significant parasite outbreaks in recent American history. Produce supplier Taylor Farms is recalling iceberg lettuce shipped to 27 U.S. states because of potential contamination with cyclospora, the parasite causing thousands of cases of diarrhea across the country. The situation took a confusing turn over the weekend when the FDA initially announced a positive test result — only to reverse course. The FDA said, "Due to the complexity in detection of Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive." As of Sunday, July 19, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora, the FDA said.

Despite the false positive, the recall itself remains firmly in place. The false positive does not change the company's earlier voluntary recall of its iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Taylor Farms, which produces lettuce for Taco Bell and multiple grocery retailers, continues "working with the firm to ensure product implicated in this outbreak has been removed from the market," the FDA said. Food safety experts noted that testing for cyclospora is notoriously difficult. Donald W. Schaffner, chair of the Department of Food Science at Rutgers University, said the Taylor Farms recall was "the right thing" for it to do, regardless of the status of lab tests, and added, "Unfortunately testing for this organism is difficult. False positives are always possible."

The Scope of the Outbreak

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora illnesses linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The numbers are staggering. The Michigan state health department has reported more than 5,000 cases of cyclosporiasis during the outbreak investigation. The state health department said the concentrated, sharp increase in cases "strongly suggests that the vast majority of these illnesses are associated with the same outbreak" — which would make it the largest cyclospora outbreak on record in the U.S.

Based on epidemiological information collected by the CDC, a total of 1,644 people infected with Cyclospora and reporting exposure to Taco Bell have been reported by five states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 13, 2026, to July 13, 2026. There have been 94 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported. The CDC's official tally, however, only captures confirmed cases. The CDC is also investigating cyclospora parasitic infections in a total of 34 states, and says there is likely more than one outbreak — it is investigating 5,100 additional illnesses.

What Was Recalled and Where It Went

The company has stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of the iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico, and notified its customers. The shredded iceberg product was distributed June 29 through July 16 across more than two dozen states. The recall covers 12-oz and 24-oz Marketside Iceberg Salad and 8-oz and 16-oz Marketside Shredded Lettuce bags with "best if used by" dates ranging from July 18 to August 3, 2026. The recalled lettuce was distributed to Walmart stores in at least 15 states, as well as food service operations in 27 states.

Major retailers and food service companies moved quickly. Taco Bell said it removed the lettuce from its restaurants and its nationwide supply chain. Restaurant food distributor Sysco also took action, proactively removing all Taylor Farms processed iceberg lettuce products from Mexico from distribution and instructing customers to destroy them. According to the FDA, cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can cause severe diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, fatigue, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Anyone who still has the recalled product at home should throw it away immediately. Full refunds are available at the location of purchase.

A Pattern Worth Watching

Taylor Farms produce has been linked with previous illness outbreaks, including E. coli cases tied to slivered onions in 2024 and cyclospora cases linked with lettuce in 2013. While the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm, which represents less than 1% of the U.S.'s iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source of the outbreak, Taylor Farms has removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely. With the investigation still active across dozens of states and thousands of additional illnesses under review, federal health officials warn that additional implicated brands,