Taylor Farms has issued a recall of iceberg lettuce distributed to retailers across 27 states due to potential contamination with cyclospora, a parasite known to cause severe gastrointestinal illness. The announcement was made late Friday following an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linking some cases of cyclosporiasis to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms to Taco Bell locations in five states.

The recall covers products shipped from June 29 through the previous Thursday, with expiration dates extending to August 3. While the company provided eight associated brand codes in the recall notice, it did not clarify their specific meanings or identify the retail and food service customers involved. According to Taylor Farms, its branded salad kits are not included in the recall, although some iceberg lettuce was mixed with romaine in certain products.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that Taylor Farms has not released distribution details or customer lists related to the recalled products, reflecting existing regulatory gaps that frustrate food safety advocates. The FDA’s recall notice confirmed that the scope includes states such as Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Florida, Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Missouri, among others. California and New York were not explicitly named, but it remains unclear whether lettuce shipped to other states might have subsequently reached those markets through secondary distribution.

Large food distributors have taken precautionary measures in response. Sysco announced that, at Taylor Farms’ request, it has withdrawn all iceberg lettuce sourced from Mexico within its supply chain, ceasing sales and distribution as of Thursday. Similarly, US Foods notified affected customers about the recall on Friday. Retail giant Walmart confirmed it removed four varieties of its private-label Marketside bagged iceberg lettuce sold in the 27 states as a precaution. Walmart advised customers to discard or return the products for full refunds, though it indicated no confirmed contamination in its inventory.

To date, at least 1,645 individuals have reported illness linked to the outbreak, resulting in 141 hospitalizations. The majority of these cases have been associated with consumption of Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants. The CDC’s investigation involved tracing case reports back to a common food source, though the agency expects the number of cases to rise as it continues to assess the full impact of the broader recall.

The CDC also noted that 2026 is on course to record more cyclospora infections than any previous year in the United States, with over 5,100 additional suspected cases under ongoing review. The parasite typically spreads through ingestion of food or water contaminated with fecal matter.

Taylor Farms confirmed that its processing facility in Guanajuato, Mexico, has voluntarily ceased distributing all iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico as part of the response to the outbreak. The company emphasized its commitment to food safety and cooperation with regulatory authorities as the situation develops.