Federal health officials have linked shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Fresh Foods to a widespread Cyclospora outbreak affecting Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. While the FDA traces the contamination to a specific independent farm, Taylor Fresh Foods has pulled all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico from the U.S. market.
Health Risks and Regional Outbreak Scope
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning to consumers to avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in five specific states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The outbreak involves cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, cramping, and bloating, which can persist for weeks.
As of this week, the CDC has identified at least 1,644 cases associated with the outbreak in these five states. Michigan health officials reported a significant surge, noting more than 5,000 cases of cyclosporiasis during the investigation period. While state health authorities acknowledged they cannot say with certainty that every illness is linked to the same source of exposure
, they noted that the sharp, concentrated rise in cases strongly suggests that the vast majority of these illnesses are associated with the same outbreak.
Taylor Fresh Foods Supply Chain Response
Taylor Fresh Foods, the supplier for the affected Taco Bell locations, has moved to isolate the source of the contamination. The company confirmed that FDA testing pointed toward a specific independent farm
in central Mexico. In response, Taylor Fresh Foods stated it is removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from that region from the U.S. market indefinitely.
“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. No other Taylor Fresh Foods products across the country are impacted. No Taylor Farms branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce.”
The company also expressed concern for those affected, stating, As a family owned and operated company, we are deeply concerned for those who became ill, their families, and the many Americans whose trust in the safety of their fresh produce has been shaken.
Taco Bell Ingredient Removal and Operational Changes
Taco Bell has taken steps to replace the affected ingredient across its supply chain. The company confirmed it has removed potentially impacted lettuce in select states and is replacing it nationwide within 24 hours in the affected regions. Taco Bell officials also noted that the chain has committed to stop using any lettuce from the supplier identified by FDA’s traceback investigation.
Broader Context of Cyclospora Infections
Unlike some other foodborne illnesses, it is not generally spread from person to person.
Public health officials in Michigan are currently investigating whether the contaminated lettuce reached other restaurants or grocery stores, given that some patients reported they had not eaten at Taco Bell. State officials emphasized there is no evidence that the outbreak is related to poor food handling at any single restaurant chain, leading them to advise consumers to purchase whole heads of lettuce as a safer alternative to pre-washed or pre-mixed salad kits.
This incident adds to a history of foodborne illness reports involving Taylor Farms produce, including E. coli cases linked to onions in 2024 and prior cyclospora outbreaks associated with lettuce in 2013.
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