Taylor Farms withdraws Mexican iceberg lettuce from U.S. market amid Cyclospora outbreak

Taylor Farms announced it is voluntarily pulling all iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico from the U.S. market after health officials linked a Cyclospora outbreak to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in five states. The company told major customers, including Taco Bell’s parent Yum Brands and food distributor Sysco, to remove the product from distribution.

"The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states," Taco Bell said.

The parasite, which infects the small intestine, can cause watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever and other flu-like symptoms after an incubation period of one to two weeks. The CDC has reported more than 5,000 cases in Michigan alone, with 102 hospitalizations, and is investigating additional illnesses in other states.

FDA traceback work identified a specific farm that supplies less than 1% of U.S. iceberg lettuce as the likely source, prompting the broader recall. The agency said the investigation is ongoing and other brands or distribution channels could be implicated.

The recall comes as federal food-traceability rules have been delayed, a factor that officials say could have slowed the identification of the contaminated source.