FirstAlerts
Recalls & Safety AlertsVersion 2

FDA and Outlets Report Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Taylor Farms Lettuce

Reports differ on illness totals and distribution as health officials investigate Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico.

3 reports on this incident · first at Aug 16, 2026, 1:52 a.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 13, 2026, 7:04 p.m. ETUpdated Aug 17, 2026, 4:53 p.m. ET
Developing · checked 11h ago

This recall is open. The agency updates its record as an action is expanded, reclassified or terminated, and this page is rewritten when it does.

We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 17, 2026, 10:07 p.m. ET — checked 11h ago.

On July 17, 2026, an action involving iceberg lettuce was initiated following a Cyclospora outbreak, according to FDA reports cited by news outlets. The recalled product is primarily described as shredded iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico, according to reporting by The New Republic, Newser, and Medical Daily, while BizToc reported the product as . Newser reported that the recall involves . Outlets report the status of the event as (Medical Daily) and (BizToc) as of August 14, 2026. Outlets reported differing details regarding the cause and distribution of the lettuce. The New Republic reported that the FDA notified that its shredded iceberg lettuce tested positive for cyclospora, while Medical Daily reported that lettuce grown at the company's central Mexico operation was implicated in the largest U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak recorded. BizToc reported that FDA officials linked the outbreak to contaminated lettuce from the Guanajuato facility, and Newser reported that . On distribution, The New Republic reported , whereas Newser reported distribution under multiple brands to chains including Taco Bell, Walmart, and Subway. Medical Daily reported distribution in 31 states, while BizToc reported distribution . Reported illness figures and symptoms also vary by source. The New Republic reported that the Cyclospora parasite can cause explosive bowel movements and that the national outbreak has sickened more than 13,000 people and caused two deaths. Medical Daily reported that , with official counts standing at 9,481 illnesses across 17 states, 398 hospitalizations, and two deaths in Michigan. Newser reported that

Earlier reports

  1. Aug 16, 2026, 2:10 a.m. ET

    FDA Investigates Contaminated Taylor Farms Lettuce Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak

    On August 14, 2026, reports updated details on an ongoing FDA investigation into Taylor Farms lettuce. According to New Republic and Newser, the product involved is shredded iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico, while Biztoc reported it as contaminated lettuce from Taylor Farms' facility in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Newser reported that the quantity involved is about 3.1 million pounds of lettuce. The status of the event is continuing. The hazard is a Cyclospora parasite that can cause explosive bowel movements, according to New Republic. Differing reasons have been reported for the contamination: New Republic reported the FDA notified Taylor Farms that its shredded iceberg lettuce tested positive for cyclospora, Biztoc reported that FDA officials linked the outbreak to contaminated lettuce from the facility, and Newser reported that investigators suspect contaminated agricultural water. Reports conflict on the number of injuries and exact distribution. Newser reported that the outbreak has sickened nearly 10,000 people across 47 states and led to two deaths, while New Republic reported that the national outbreak has sickened more than 13,000 people and caused two deaths. Regarding distribution, New Republic reported Taylor Farms sells products to Walmart, Sam's Club, Kroger, SYSCO, Aldi, Target, and Dollar General; Newser reported products were distributed under multiple brands to major chains including Taco Bell, Walmart, and Subway; and Biztoc reported distribution spread across 17 states.

  2. Aug 16, 2026, 1:52 a.m. ETFirst report

    FDA Notifies Taylor Farms After Lettuce Tests Positive for Cyclospora

    The FDA has notified Taylor Farms that its shredded iceberg lettuce tested positive for cyclospora, according to reporting from newrepublic.com. Cyclospora is a parasite that can cause explosive bowel movements. Officials and outlets indicate this is a developing situation.\n\nAccording to newrepublic.com, the product involved is shredded iceberg lettuce that was grown and processed in central Mexico. A national outbreak has sickened more than 13,000 people and caused two deaths, newrepublic.com reported.\n\nTaylor Farms sells products to Walmart, Sam's Club, Kroger, SYSCO, Aldi, Target, and Dollar General, according to newrepublic.com.

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Revision history

  1. Version 217 Aug 2026, 20:53current

    Updated story to include conflicting illness counts, hospitalization numbers, suspect causes, and distribution details from all reporting outlets.

  2. Version 116 Aug 2026, 06:10current

    First published.

  3. Version 116 Aug 2026, 05:52current

    First published.

  4. Version 116 Aug 2026, 06:00

    First published.

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