Taylor Farms widens lettuce recall to 27 states amid cyclospora outbreak
Taylor Farms expanded its voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico to cover shipments in 27 states after a possible link to a multistate cyclospora outbreak, and the company has halted sourcing from the implicated lot.
Taylor Farms announced on Friday that its voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico now includes shipments to 27 states, such as Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New Jersey. The recall covers 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix items sold under eight brand codes, with the most recent shipments dated as late as Aug. 3.
The company said it is actively removing the implicated products and has stopped sourcing lettuce from the affected lot in Mexico.
U.S. health officials earlier identified lettuce from a Mexican supplier as the source of cyclospora contamination in food served at Taco Bell restaurants in five Midwestern states. Sysco, the nation’s largest food distributor, has halted distribution of all Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from Mexico and instructed customers to destroy the product.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can contaminate produce through contact with contaminated water or human feces, causing intestinal illness. The CDC reports that the parasite has sickened at least 1,645 people in the United States this year, with 141 hospitalizations, and is investigating thousands of additional cases.
Taco Bell said it quickly removed the affected shredded lettuce from its restaurants and has eliminated the ingredient from its nationwide supply chain.