Taylor Farms, a Salinas, California-based company, has initiated a voluntary recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. This action follows reports from federal health officials, including the FDA and CDC, linking the lettuce to a parasitic outbreak of cyclospora across at least 34 states. The FDA's traceback investigation pinpointed a specific independent farm, representing less than 1% of the U.S.'s iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source.
The cyclospora outbreak, first reported in May, has sickened thousands. The CDC has confirmed 1,644 cases, with over 5,100 additional cases under investigation, and states like Michigan reporting more than 5,000 cases. Although the CDC's count often lags behind state health departments, this outbreak has far surpassed the 2019 record of approximately 4,700 U.S. cyclosporiasis cases. No deaths have been reported.
The implicated lettuce was primarily distributed to Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Taco Bell proactively removed potentially affected lettuce from its supply chain nationwide and replaced it within 24 hours in selected states. Taylor Farms emphasized that no other Taylor Fresh Foods products or branded salad kits containing iceberg lettuce are impacted. This is not the first time Taylor Farms has been connected to cyclospora outbreaks; a 2013 incident linked a salad mix from a Taylor Farms processing plant in Mexico to 631 illnesses in 25 states.
While the focus has been on Taco Bell, Michigan health officials noted that many ill individuals did not report eating at Taco Bell, suggesting the lettuce may have been distributed to other restaurants or even grocery stores. They found lettuce frequently appeared in food questionnaires, including those without restaurant exposure. Federal officials stressed that other brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels could be tied to the outbreak as investigations continue.
Consumers are still advised by federal health officials to avoid shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell in the five mentioned states, but shredded lettuce sold in grocery stores or served in other restaurants is not affected according to the CDC. Health officials continue to recommend the purchase of whole heads of lettuce over pre-washed, bagged lettuce, or pre-mixed salad kits for general safety precautions.
