Taylor Farms, a major fruit and vegetable producer and supplier to restaurants, is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market in response to an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak. The outbreak has led to more than 1,644 confirmed illnesses across the country, with 94 hospitalizations and no reported deaths.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico as the potential source of the outbreak. This lettuce was reportedly served at some Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Taco Bell stated that it took immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states following discussions with public health officials. The company emphasized its commitment to guest safety and encouraged other restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators to take similar precautionary measures.
Taylor Farms, a subsidiary of Taylor Fresh Foods, stated that while the FDA traceback indicates a specific independent farm, representing less than 1% of the U.S. iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source, the company has removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely. The company expressed deep concern for those who became ill and for the shaken trust in fresh produce safety.
No other Taylor Fresh Foods products nationwide are impacted, and no Taylor Farms branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce. The company, founded in 1995 by Bruce Taylor in Salinas, California, is family-owned and describes itself as a leading global producer of fresh vegetables, meal kits, and salads, operating production facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Cases occur annually, but the current outbreak has seen a higher number of reported illnesses than typically seen.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA are collaborating with state and local partners to investigate other cyclosporiasis illnesses that may be unrelated to the lettuce supplied to Taco Bell.
This is not the first food safety concern involving Taylor Farms. In October 2024, the company voluntarily recalled raw onions that the FDA linked to an E. coli outbreak associated with McDonald's Quarter Pounder sandwiches. That outbreak, which concluded in December 2024, resulted in 104 illnesses, 34 hospitalizations, and one death across 14 states.