Congressman Requests Documents as Probe Into Taylor Farms Donation and Cyclospora Outbreak Expands

U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter to Taylor Farms CEO Bruce Taylor on Monday requesting internal communications related to the recent cyclospora outbreak and any contacts with the White House. The request follows reports that Taylor donated $1 million to a Trump super PAC in 2025, less than a week after the administration delayed a food-safety rule that would have facilitated tracing contaminated produce.

Garcia said the timing raises concerns that the donation could have been used to influence the FDA’s investigation, which identified Taylor Farms’ de Mexico processing facility as the source of contaminated iceberg lettuce supplied to several restaurant chains. The outbreak prompted a voluntary recall in 27 states and sickened thousands of consumers.

In a statement to CBS News, Garcia said, "Thousands of Americans became sick. Trust in our public health system is on the line. The American people deserve to know Taylor Farms' full role in this outbreak, and we're demanding answers."

The White House, through spokesperson Kush Desai, denied any compromise of public health, stating that the administration would not interfere with FDA investigations and that the agency’s findings are based on solid epidemiological evidence.

Taylor Farms also issued a statement asserting that FDA testing has not found positive cyclospora results in its products and emphasizing its commitment to food safety.

The committee’s inquiry includes requests for documents covering communications about cyclospora from May 1 2026 onward and any interactions between Taylor Farms and the White House since January 1 2025, as well as details on how the company determined which products to recall on July 17.