'CDC: Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Shredded Iceberg Lettuce Served at Taco Bell in 5 States'

 

Food safety alert

Investigation status: Open

Recall issued: No

• CDC, FDA, and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in 5 states. Taylor Farms de Mexico is voluntarily removing all shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Taylor Farms also informed FDA that they would initiate a recall.
• Do not eat food items with shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
• CDC is also investigating other outbreaks and illnesses of cyclosporiasis nationally that are unrelated to this outbreak.

Fast Facts

• Cases: more than 1,644
• Hospitalizations: 94
• Deaths: 0
• States: 5

Food linked to illness

Removed food

On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico announced that they are voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Taylor Farms also informed FDA that they would initiate a recall. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

What you should do

Important

Do not eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Contact your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of Cyclospora

• Primary symptoms of cyclosporiasis include watery diarrhea, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
• You may need to specifically request testing for Cyclospora. Routine stool tests don't always screen for this parasite.
• Symptoms usually begin about one week after becoming infected (ranging from 2 days to 2 weeks or more).
• Without treatment, symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to a month or longer.
  
• If you have symptoms, stay well-hydrated.

Provide information to help us identify the contaminated foods

• If you are sick with cyclosporiasis, local or state health officials may contact you to find out what you ate in the two weeks before you got sick.

Take steps to reduce your risk of getting sick from Cyclospora

• Wash your hands and any fresh produce thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking.
  
• Cooking can kill the parasite. Since washing alone cannot guarantee Cyclospora removal, cook produce to a temperature of at least 158 °F (70°C).
• Learn which foods are more likely to contain the parasite Cyclospora and ways to prevent getting cyclosporiasis.
• Stay up to date on food recalls and outbreaks.

What healthcare providers can do

• Report cyclosporiasis cases to your local health department.
• For more information about clinical features of cyclosporiasis and patient management, see Clinical Care of Cyclosporiasis.

Notice

See CDC's Health Alert Network notice for this outbreak.

Symptoms

• People begin to experience symptoms of cyclosporiasis about one week (ranging as soon as 2 days to 2 weeks or more) after consuming food or drinking water containing Cyclospora.
• Common symptoms include:
  • Watery diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Cramping
  • Bloating
  • Increased gas
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue

See also

Investigation of 5-State Outbreak of Cyclospora Illnesses: Iceberg Lettuce (July 2026) | FDA

https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/07-26/index.html