🔥 Trending Taylor Farms Lettuce Cyclospora Outbreak: FDA Confirms False Positive

Here's the latest information regarding the Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms lettuce:

Initial Outbreak and Recall

In July 2026, a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora illnesses was linked to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico ². The outbreak sickened over 1,600 people across the country ³. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state health officials, began investigating the outbreak ²⁶.

Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico due to the potential link to the outbreak ³⁶. This recall initially affected 27 states ¹⁸.

Link to Taco Bell

The investigation traced some of the contaminated iceberg lettuce to Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois ²⁵. Federal officials collaborated with Michigan investigators to identify this link ⁵.

Laboratory Testing and Confirmation

On July 17, 2026, a shredded iceberg lettuce sample from Taylor Farms de Mexico tested positive for the Cyclospora parasite ⁴¹⁰. The FDA confirmed that this sample was contaminated with the parasite responsible for the outbreak ⁴. This positive test result led Taylor Farms to expand its nationwide recall of iceberg lettuce products ⁷¹⁰.

Subsequent Development: False Positive

However, on July 20, 2026, the FDA announced that laboratory experts re-checked the lettuce sample results from Taylor Farms and determined the initial positive finding was a false positive ⁹. This development indicates that while the recall was initiated due to a potential link, the direct laboratory confirmation of Cyclospora in the Taylor Farms lettuce sample was later retracted.

Current Status

As of July 20, 2026, the CDC, public health, and regulatory officials are continuing to collect data to investigate the multistate outbreak of Cyclospora ⁶. The initial recall by Taylor Farms de Mexico of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico remains in effect ⁶. Consumers are encouraged to check recall lists and dispose of any affected items ¹.