Federal health officials have confirmed that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico tested positive for Cyclospora, adding new urgency to an expanding multistate recall tied to a parasite outbreak that has sickened more than 1,600 people. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the contaminated sample was collected through targeted import surveillance and is not technically part of the current recall, though the positive lot has been detained while investigators determine whether any affected lettuce is still sitting on store shelves or in consumers’ refrigerators. The California-based produce company said it has stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, and notified customers as it works alongside the FDA, CDC, and state authorities.
The recall covers 12-ounce and 24-ounce bags of Marketside iceberg salad along with 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags of Marketside shredded iceberg lettuce distributed between June 29 and July 16, with best-if-used-by dates ranging from July 18 through August 3. Affected products were shipped to 27 states and also reached numerous foodservice customers. Taylor Farms has stressed that none of its branded salad kits are connected to the outbreak, saying it voluntarily pulled the Mexican-sourced lettuce after receiving information from the FDA.
The FDA’s trace-back investigation identified Taylor Farms de Mexico as the supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce used at Taco Bell restaurants where infected customers reported eating before falling ill. Taco Bell has voluntarily stopped using lettuce from the supplier in select states, though the agency noted that not every location in the five affected states received the contaminated product. Health officials are investigating illnesses across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, where the outbreak has hospitalized 94 people. No deaths have been reported.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can trigger severe diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, fatigue, and other gastrointestinal symptoms that can linger for weeks if left untreated. The FDA is urging consumers who purchased any of the recalled lettuce to throw it away immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a refund, and has specifically advised residents in the five affected states to avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell restaurants.
