FDA report details scope of Taylor Farms lettuce recall affecting major retailers and restaurants
The FDA released a report outlining a recall of over 236,000 cases of lettuce linked to a cyclospora outbreak, naming retailers such as Walmart and restaurant chains including Subway and Taco Bell.
The Food and Drug Administration disclosed that 236,192 cases of iceberg and romaine lettuce, some mixed with carrots and red cabbage, were withdrawn from distribution in Mexico and 27 U.S. states after a potential cyclospora contamination was identified in July 2026. Walmart's private-label brand Marketside accounted for the largest portion, with 109,476 cases removed, while fast-food chains such as Subway (8,075 cases), Yum! Brands (5,900 cases) and Jack in the Box (5,130 cases) also recalled product. Only Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, has been directly linked to the recall.
The report lists additional commercial customers, including food distributors Sysco, Markon, Peak Lettuce Salad and US Foods subsidiary Cross Valley Farms. The recalled lettuce originated from central Mexico and was shipped to states including Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.
Consumer advocacy group Consumer Federation of America had previously criticized Taylor Farms for using abbreviated codes like “MKTSD” and “CV” on recall notices. Federal health officials have recorded more than 22,700 cyclospora infections, resulting in over 500 hospitalizations and two deaths, with Michigan reporting the highest number of cases.
State health officials have now advised residents that bagged salads can be safely consumed, noting a decline in new cases and emergency-room visits.
"The FDA officials did a great job identifying the source," National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya said in an interview on CBS Face the Nation.
The outbreak has also impacted restaurant earnings, with Taco Bell reporting a roughly 2 percent drop in sales for its most recent fiscal quarter.