WASHINGTON, DC — Taylor Fresh Foods has voluntarily removed all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market as federal investigators continue tracking a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened more than 1,600 people nationwide. The action covers shredded lettuce sold in 27 states and includes some Marketside-brand products sold at Walmart, along with other items sent to food service customers.
The recall notice from the Food and Drug Administration said the lettuce was sold between June 29 and July 16. The states listed are Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
FDA And CDC Findings
The company said it was actively removing the products, had stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, and had suspended distribution of iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico. Taylor Fresh Foods also said it notified customers and is working with the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state authorities as the investigation continues.
As of Friday, the CDC said the multistate outbreak was still under investigation and had been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The FDA said Thursday that traceback work identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico used at those restaurants.
How The Outbreak Spread
According to Taylor Fresh Foods, the lettuce suspected in the outbreak came from a single independent farm in central Mexico. In a statement to ABC News, the company said the farm represents less than 1% of the U.S. iceberg lettuce supply, but Taylor Farms is removing all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely as a precaution.
The CDC and FDA said they are also investigating other cyclosporiasis illnesses that may not be tied to the lettuce served at Taco Bell, working with state and local partners. The agencies said there have been more than 1,644 confirmed cases nationwide, with 94 hospitalizations and no reported deaths so far.
What Consumers Should Watch
Taylor Fresh Foods said no other products across the country are affected and that no Taylor Farms branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce. The company, founded in 1995 in California’s Salinas Valley, said it is continuing to issue updates as new information becomes available.
People who want the latest recall details can check the FDA and CDC outbreak pages, along with any state health department notices tied to the 27-state distribution list. The FDA later said a lettuce sample that tested positive outside the recall was considered a false positive, underscoring that the investigation is still evolving.
More on health, care, money and the people nearby, on Westlake Arrow.