By Gloria Ogbonna
Taylor Farms has issued a voluntary recall of shredded iceberg lettuce distributed across 27 states after federal health officials linked the product to a growing Cyclospora outbreak that has caused thousands of illnesses nationwide.
The recall comes as the United States continues to experience one of its largest outbreaks of cyclosporiasis on record, with nearly 7,000 confirmed or suspected cases reported in 34 states since May 1, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Health officials are urging consumers to immediately throw away the recalled lettuce and avoid eating it due to the risk of infection from the microscopic Cyclospora parasite.
Taylor Farms said it has already begun removing the affected products from the marketplace and has suspended shipments of iceberg lettuce sourced from Central Mexico to the United States. The company also confirmed it is no longer accepting products from the lot believed to be connected to the outbreak.
“Consumers who have purchased the recalled iceberg lettuce should discard it immediately and not consume it,” the company said in its recall announcement.
The recalled shredded iceberg lettuce was distributed between June 29 and July 16 to customers in 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.
Although the recall notice includes production codes, brand abbreviations and use-by dates, Taylor Farms has not identified the specific retailers that received the affected lettuce. The company emphasized that Taylor Farms-branded salads and salad kits are not included in the recall and that none of its branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce associated with the outbreak.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Taylor Fresh Foods has not yet publicly released a complete list of customers or distributors that received the recalled products, making it difficult for consumers to determine exactly where the lettuce was sold.
Federal investigators have traced part of the Midwest outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and served at selected Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky. In response, Taco Bell announced Friday that it had removed the affected lettuce from restaurants in the impacted areas and from its nationwide supply chain as a precaution.
The FDA also warned that additional states could be added to the recall investigation as more information becomes available.
Food distributor Sysco said it had already taken precautionary measures after learning about the possible contamination.
A company spokesperson said Sysco proactively removed all processed Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico from its distribution network and instructed customers to destroy any remaining product after regulators indicated a suspected connection between the lettuce and the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis. Infection typically develops several days after consuming contaminated food or water and can lead to prolonged gastrointestinal illness.
Health experts say symptoms commonly include severe watery diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. In many cases, symptoms can last for weeks if left untreated and may lead to dehydration, particularly among young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
According to the CDC, nearly 7,000 Cyclospora infections have either been confirmed or are currently under investigation in 34 states since early May. Federal health officials said multiple investigations are ongoing, with some outbreaks linked to specific regions while others remain isolated or have not yet been connected to a common source.
So far, the largest outbreak remains concentrated in the Midwest.
The Michigan Department of Health reported more than 5,000 cases of cyclosporiasis during its investigation, making it the most heavily affected state. Officials noted they cannot confirm every illness came from the exact same source, but said the sharp spike in infections strongly suggests that the vast majority are connected to a single widespread outbreak.
If confirmed, the current outbreak would become the largest Cyclospora outbreak ever recorded in the United States.
This is not the first time Taylor Farms products have been associated with foodborne illness investigations. In 2024, the company’s slivered onions were linked to an E. coli outbreak, while in 2013, Taylor Farms lettuce was associated with another Cyclospora outbreak.
Federal and state health officials continue to investigate the source of the contamination while urging consumers to check their refrigerators, discard any recalled shredded iceberg lettuce, and seek medical attention if they experience persistent diarrhea or other symptoms consistent with Cyclospora infection after consuming lettuce. The FDA said its investigation remains active and additional recalls or public health updates may follow as new information becomes available.
Source ABC7
Original article
Comments