Taylor Farms, a prominent California-based lettuce supplier, has announced the removal of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, a move aimed at containing a foodborne illness outbreak that could escalate into one of the largest in the United States in recent years.
The company confirmed its decision on Friday, stating it was based on information provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the previous day.
The supplier clarified that no Taylor Farms-branded salads or kits are linked to the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak, and none of its branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce.
An industry insider, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak publicly, told Reuters that Taylor Farms contacted clients Thursday, including Taco Bell owner Yum Brands and food distributor Sysco, instructing them to pull their shredded lettuce from distribution.
The lettuce, which the FDA later confirmed originated from Mexico, was produced in 5-pound bags at Taylor Farms’ facility in Guanajuato, Mexico. Sysco reportedly distributes these bags widely to hospitals, ballparks, and fast-food chains.
The full extent of the recall remains unclear. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are actively investigating the outbreak, which has been tied to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness, can cause severe diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, though the FDA has reported no fatalities in this outbreak.
The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA, did not respond to requests for comment. Similarly, Yum and Sysco did not immediately provide a response.
This is not the first time Taylor Farms’ Mexican operations have been implicated in a major cyclosporiasis outbreak. A 2013 incident, traced to salad mix from Taylor Farms de Mexico in Guanajuato, sickened over 600 people across 25 states, according to the CDC. More recently, Taylor Farms supplied the slivered onions identified as the likely source of the 2024 E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers, which also led to a recall.
Michigan health officials reported a staggering 5,002 cases of cyclosporiasis as of Friday, marking an increase of 690 cases in just one day. Investigators are working to identify the source of this unusually large intestinal illness outbreak, which began on May 1 and is concentrated in Michigan, with Ohio and New York also reporting significant numbers of infections.
On Thursday, the FDA announced that Taco Bell would cease using lettuce from a supplier identified during its investigation. While Taco Bell and the FDA did not name the supplier, the food safety regulator stated its traceback investigation pinpointed a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico used by Taco Bell locations where individuals consumed food before falling ill.
Data firm Placer.ai reported that Taco Bell’s daily foot traffic on July 11 was down 5.8%, just days after reports emerged of the fast-food chain pulling ingredients from some locations. Foodborne illness outbreaks can significantly impact restaurant stocks. McDonald’s faced intense scrutiny during a cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to salads in 2018, while Chipotle grappled with a series of E. coli and norovirus outbreaks that severely affected sales, eroded consumer confidence, and pressured its shares.
Ari Felhandler, an analyst at Morningstar, said, “The recent outbreak will likely dent (Taco Bell’s) near-term same-store sales growth,” suggesting that some consumers might opt for competitors to mitigate perceived risks, even with precautions in place. Yum shares subsequently dipped 2%.
An Ohio man has filed a lawsuit alleging he was hospitalized with cyclosporiasis after eating at a Taco Bell in Youngstown, Ohio, seeking damages from Taco Bell, franchise operator Charter Foods, and supplier Taylor Farms.
The FDA confirmed it is collaborating with the supplier to ascertain if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market and has initiated the collection of product samples for testing and analysis.
Meanwhile, Wendy’s and Chipotle Mexican Grill have stated their restaurants were not affected by the cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce.
