FDA report shows less than 2.5% of recalled Taylor Farms lettuce was sent to Taco Bell
The Food and Drug Administration identified that only about 5,900 of the 236,192 recalled cases of lettuce from Taylor Farms were supplied to Taco Bell, while the majority went to Walmart and other distributors.
The Food and Drug Administration’s latest enforcement report indicates that Taylor Farms recalled 236,192 cases of shredded iceberg lettuce due to possible Cyclospora contamination. Of those, roughly 5,900 cases – just under 2.5% – were shipped to Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC. The remaining lettuce was distributed primarily to other retailers and food-service providers.
Walmart’s private-label brand Marketside received the largest share, with 109,476 cases (about 46%). Taylor Farms’ own brand accounted for 68,897 cases (around 29%). Other recipients included Cross Valley Farms (19,016 cases), Sysco (11,519 cases), Markon (7,459 cases) and Peak Fresh Produce (720 cases). Restaurant chains Subway and Jack in the Box were also supplied, receiving 8,075 and 5,130 cases respectively.
The FDA report provides more detail than the recall notice issued by Taylor Farms, which listed only abbreviated company names and omitted quantities. Taylor Farms did not respond to a request for comment on why the distribution details were not disclosed earlier.
Public health agencies had previously warned consumers to avoid shredded lettuce at Taco Bell locations in several states after epidemiological investigations linked the chain to the outbreak. The broader recall, however, highlights that most of the potentially contaminated lettuce entered the market through other channels.