Updated July 24, 2026
A multistate outbreak of *Cyclospora* infections linked to iceberg lettuce has expanded to nine states and now accounts for nearly 2,000 reported illnesses, federal health officials said in their latest update. The lettuce at the center of the investigation was grown in central Mexico, supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico, and reached consumers largely through Taco Bell restaurants, Walmart stores, and food-service distributors.
The FDA and CDC, working with state and local partners, continue to investigate. The outbreak remains classified as **ongoing**.
The Latest Numbers
As of July 24, 2026, the outbreak includes:
– **1,947 reported illnesses**
– **98 hospitalizations**
– **0 deaths**
– **Illness onset dates** ranging from June 22, 2026 through July 20, 2026
Cases have been reported in nine states, all tied to Taco Bell exposure: **Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.**
The jump in reported illnesses is partly explained by the addition of four new states—Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania—that were folded into the outbreak since the earlier five-state tally (Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia). Officials caution that the count is likely to keep climbing even with the recall in place, because it can take up to six weeks for CDC and state investigators to confirm whether a newly sick person belongs to this outbreak.
What’s Been Recalled
On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico of Guanajuato, Mexico, announced it was voluntarily pulling all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico off the U.S. market and initiated a recall. The recalled products include Marketside-brand items sold at Walmart:
– **Iceberg Salad** – 12-oz and 24-oz, with “Best if Used By” dates of 7/18/2026 through 8/3/2026
– **Shredded Lettuce** – 8-oz and 16-oz, with “Best if Used By” dates of July 18 through August 3, 2026
Additional products were distributed to food-service customers. A full list, including lot codes, use-by dates, and disposal instructions, is available in the company’s recall notice.
How the Lettuce Was Distributed
**Restaurants:** Any Taco Bell location that received the recalled lettuce. Taco Bell has said it stopped using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as of July 17, 2026.
**Retail:** Recalled Marketside-brand products were sold at select Walmart stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
**Food service:** Taylor Fresh Foods distributed recalled lettuce from June 29 through July 16 across more than two dozen states, from Connecticut and Massachusetts down through Florida and west into Texas and Iowa.
The recall also reached beyond U.S. borders—the company’s records show recalled product was sold to consumers in Mexico.
How Investigators Traced It
The FDA’s traceback investigation converged on a single supplier, Taylor Farms de Mexico, that provided shredded iceberg lettuce to Taco Bell locations where sick people had eaten before falling ill. That epidemiological picture was reinforced by Michigan’s analysis of 190 interviewed cases: about 90% of those who reported eating at Taco Bell said they had eaten iceberg lettuce.
Officials also moved to clear up confusion over a lab result. A lettuce sample from Taylor Farms de Mexico that was initially reported positive on July 18 was later determined to be a **false positive** after FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed it. The agency has stressed that this does not weaken the case for the recall—the traceback and the broader epidemiological data still point squarely at the central-Mexico iceberg lettuce. As of the latest update, there are no confirmed positive product samples for *Cyclospora*.
About Cyclosporiasis
*Cyclospora* is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis. The most common symptom is watery diarrhea with frequent bowel movements. Other symptoms include:
– Loss of appetite and weight loss
– Stomach cramps or pain, bloating, and increased gas
– Nausea and fatigue
– Less commonly, vomiting, body aches, headache, and low-grade fever
Some infected people have no symptoms at all. Untreated, the illness can lead to dehydration and, in some cases, more serious complications requiring higher levels of care. A hallmark of the illness is that symptoms can appear to resolve and then return one or more times (relapse), and episodes may drag on from a few days to a month or more. People with weakened immune systems may face more severe and prolonged illness.
What You Should Do
– **Throw it out.** Consumers, restaurants, and retailers with recalled Taylor Fresh Foods iceberg lettuce should discard it immediately. Refunds are available at the point of purchase.
– **See a provider if you’re sick.** Anyone with symptoms of cyclosporiasis should contact a health care provider—especially if they ate shredded iceberg lettuce in the two weeks before getting sick.
– **Clean thoroughly.** Sanitize any surfaces or containers the recalled lettuce touched, following FDA’s safe food-handling guidance to avoid cross-contamination.
What Comes Next
Because the investigation is still open, the FDA has warned that additional brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels—and additional states—could still be identified. The agency says it will keep working with federal and state partners to make sure implicated product is off the market and will update its advisory as new information emerges.
