Lettuce Recall: Parasite Fears Grip 27 States

Taylor Farms has significantly expanded its voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce products. The recall is a precautionary measure due to a potential connection with a cyclospora outbreak that has affected numerous individuals across the United States. The parasite, cyclospora, is known to cause significant intestinal distress.

Products potentially contaminated with this parasite were distributed to 27 different states. These affected areas include states such as Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New Jersey. Taylor Farms stated that they have ceased sourcing lettuce from the specific lot implicated in central Mexico and are actively removing the products from circulation.

Health officials recently identified lettuce from a Mexican supplier as a source of cyclospora contamination linked to illnesses reported at Taco Bell restaurants in five Midwestern states. The scope of the current recall encompasses 25 different shredded lettuce and salad mix products. Sysco, a major food distributor, has halted the distribution of these specific Taylor Farms products sourced from Mexico and advised its customers to discard them.

Cyclospora infections are caused by a parasite that contaminates food, often through contact with human feces, particularly via contaminated water used in irrigation or washing produce. The CDC reports that as of 2026, cyclospora has caused at least 1,645 illnesses and 141 hospitalizations in the U.S., with thousands more cases under investigation. Taco Bell has stated they swiftly removed the affected product from their restaurants and supply chain nationwide.