Investigators Examine Taylor Farms Lettuce in Taco Bell Cyclospora Cases

Investigators have identified shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and served at some Taco Bell restaurants as a potential contamination source in a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak that has produced 1,645 confirmed cases across 34 states, according to two people familiar with the investigation as of July 16, 2026.

CDC Has Not Confirmed a Food Source

The CDC confirmed a specific multistate outbreak on July 15, linked to more than 400 illnesses in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, with symptoms first reported on or after June 22. No food item has been officially confirmed as the source in the CDC's outbreak notice.

Michigan is the outbreak's epicenter. The state reported 2,640 confirmed cases by July 13, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Health officials had counted 4,312 cases and 102 hospitalizations as of July 16 more than 85 times the roughly 40 to 50 cases Michigan would typically record in an entire year.

An FDA advisory connecting the outbreak to lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in five states was expected as of July 16, according to people familiar with the matter. That advisory had not been published as of the morning of July 17.

Taylor Farms Named in Reports

Taylor Farms is a family-owned produce company headquartered in Salinas, California, and one of the largest fresh-food suppliers in North America. The company's chairman and CEO is Bruce Taylor. Taylor Farms operates production facilities across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe and supplies shredded and bagged produce to restaurant chains and grocery retailers nationwide.

Taco Bell said on July 15 that it had voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients from select restaurants as a precautionary measure. A company spokesperson added that public health officials had not confirmed a link to Taco Bell, any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant, or retailer. No federal recall naming Taylor Farms or a specific product lot has been issued.

Shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms supplied to some Taco Bell locations has been linked to the outbreak, according to a source familiar with the investigation. The FDA's acting deputy commissioner for food, Donald Prater, said during the July 14 briefing that the agency was continuing its investigation across multiple produce items, including lettuce, but had not publicly identified any specific field, region, or supplier.

CDC Counts 1,645 Confirmed Cases

CDC surveillance data counted 1,645 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired cyclosporiasis cases as of July 13. Of those, 141 people were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. Another 5,100 reports are under review and have not yet been confirmed as domestically acquired cases, meaning the actual national total could be substantially higher once those reports are processed.

Ohio recorded more than 1,200 cases and 88 hospitalizations by July 17, according to a report citing the outbreak investigation. The FDA's active outbreak investigation table lists Cyclospora investigations opened in June 2026 with food sources not yet identified.

How Cyclospora Spreads

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that causes intestinal illness. Symptoms include frequent watery diarrhea, stomach cramping, bloating, nausea, and fatigue. The CDC notes the illness can persist for several weeks and symptoms often relapse after initially clearing. Direct person-to-person transmission is considered unlikely the parasite must spend at least one to two weeks outside the human body before it can infect a new host.

Because Cyclospora is not included in standard stool panels, a clinician must specifically request testing. That requirement has historically slowed case identification and contributed to lags between patient illness and confirmed counts reaching the CDC.

Treatment is a seven-to-ten-day course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, sold under brand names including Bactrim and Septra. Without treatment, the illness can last more than a month.

Produce Handling During the Investigation

Michigan health officials have issued specific guidance for anyone purchasing lettuce or salad greens while the investigation continues. MDHHS recommends buying whole-head lettuce rather than pre-washed bagged varieties or pre-made salad kits. Shoppers are advised to discard the outer two to three leaves and wash inner leaves under clean running water. The department noted that heating leafy greens to at least 158°F (70°C) is the only confirmed method of killing the parasite.

Our earlier reporting tracked the outbreak from its first increase past 300 Michigan cases in early July through Michigan investigators pointing to lettuce and salad greens before any supplier was named.

Prior Taylor Farms Outbreak History

Taylor Farms has appeared in previous U.S. foodborne illness investigations. In 2013, the FDA traced a cluster of cyclosporiasis illnesses at Iowa and Nebraska restaurants to a salad mix from Taylor Farms de Mexico, a subsidiary based in Mexico. The CDC recorded 631 cases across multiple overlapping outbreaks during that broader 2013 event, though not all were linked to the Taylor Farms de Mexico product.

In 2024, recalled yellow onions distributed by Taylor Farms and served at McDonald's locations were identified as the likely source of an E. coli outbreak that resulted in 104 illnesses, 34 hospitalizations, and one death, according to FDA records.

The past outbreaks do not prove responsibility in the current case. They are part of the public record of the company's prior regulatory history.

FDA and CDC Investigations Remain Open

The FDA has not issued a recall. The CDC has not officially confirmed a food source. The FDA and CDC investigations remain open and active, as does work in Michigan and other affected states.

MDHHS updates its Michigan case count Monday through Friday by 11 a.m. Eastern Time. The cyclosporiasis season typically runs through August 31, with the season's remaining weeks still carrying elevated transmission risk from the date of publication.