Taylor Farms Releases Statement Amid Nationwide Cyclosporiasis Outbreak
on Jul 18, 2026
Health officials continue to investigate a growing multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness linked to contaminated fresh produce that has sickened thousands of people across the United States this summer.
Recent reports have linked many cases to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in several states. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cyclosporiasis is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which spreads through food or water contaminated with the parasite.
Officials Warn Of Symptoms From Cyclosporiasis
As of Friday (July 17), thousands of confirmed and suspected cases have been reported nationwide, with the highest numbers stemming from Michigan and several neighboring Midwestern states. More than 30 states have reported infections, though no deaths have been linked to the outbreak.
Symptoms typically appear between two and 14 days after exposure and may include: watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, bloating, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Officials recommend washing your hands before preparing food and rinsing fresh produce, though experts caution that washing alone may not completely remove the parasite.
Taylor Farms Releases Statement
Taylor Farms, a lettuce supplier for Taco Bell, announced Friday that it was voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market. The company said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution while federal and state officials work to determine the source of the illnesses.
Consumers who may have purchased the affected products are urged not to eat them and to discard them or return them to the place of purchase if possible.
“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, we have removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely,” the statement said. “No other Taylor Fresh Foods products across the country are impacted.”
You can read Taylor Farms full statement below.
