Taylor Farms recall reportedly planned amid cyclospora lettuce probe
Bloomberg reported that Taylor Farms is preparing a recall as officials examine iceberg lettuce tied to illnesses at Taco Bell restaurants in five states.
By Sal Moretti · Money Reporter
3 min read
Taylor Farms is preparing to recall produce that may be connected to a multistate cyclospora outbreak, Bloomberg reported, as federal health officials examine whether shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants is the culprit.
The Salinas, Calif., company has not been publicly named by health officials as the supplier. MarketWatch reported that Taylor Farms did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Health officials said Thursday that 1,644 cyclosporiasis cases have been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
According to reporting from Bloomberg and The Washington Post, people familiar with the investigation have said iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms is being examined as a possible source of the outbreak.
What officials have said so far
The Food and Drug Administration said investigators had identified one supplier of iceberg lettuce from a farm in Mexico, but the agency did not publicly identify the company. The FDA also said additional states could be added to its advisory and that the lettuce did not reach every Taco Bell location.
Taco Bell said Thursday that it removed lettuce from one supplier in select states. MarketWatch reported that the chain had already pulled several items from some menus, including lettuce, cilantro and onions.
Taco Bell is owned by Yum Brands. Taylor Farms, a major U.S. salad-greens producer, sells products to restaurant chains including Taco Bell and McDonald’s, according to MarketWatch. Its produce and salad kits are also sold through grocers including Costco and Whole Foods, which is owned by Amazon.
Farm Progress has reported that Taylor Farms employs 24,000 people across 22 facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe and generates $7 billion in annual revenue. The company was founded in the mid-1990s by Bruce Taylor, a third-generation lettuce grower.
What cyclospora does
Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite. People with the illness can have watery diarrhea and abdominal cramping, and treatment requires antibiotics, according to MarketWatch.
Food-safety experts say the parasite can contaminate produce through human fecal matter. MarketWatch reported that contamination can happen if workers use the same shoes in bathrooms and fields, if hands are not washed properly or if harvesting and packing equipment is not adequately cleaned.
Kalmia Kniel, a University of Delaware professor of microbial food safety, told MarketWatch earlier this week that worker health and hygiene are central to preventing cyclospora contamination because the parasite comes from humans. She said farms need to consider employee training and where workers are coming from.
Cyclospora is endemic in parts of the world including Mexico and Guatemala, according to MarketWatch. U.S. outbreaks are seasonal and tend to happen in spring and summer before fading in August.
There are usually only a few hundred U.S. cases a year, MarketWatch reported. This year, about 7,000 people have confirmed or suspected cyclosporiasis.
Taylor Farms products have been tied to previous outbreaks, according to public health records cited by MarketWatch. Those include a 2024 E. coli outbreak linked to onions grown on one of its farms and served at McDonald’s, and a 2013 cyclospora outbreak traced to a Taylor Farms salad mix.
Health officials have also said other unrelated cyclospora outbreaks may be occurring at the same time.
This story draws on original reporting from MarketWatch.