UPDATE TO STORY BELOW: As of July 20, Taylor Farms continues to be the subject of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation into the growing cyclosporiasis outbreak, despite a false positive test result. 

"To clarify, this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA's ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms," the FDA said Monday July 20 on X. (@US_FDA) 

U.S.-based Center for Disease Control (CDC) continues to investigate an outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in five states. They include: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.  CDC is also investigating other outbreaks and illnesses of cyclosporiasis nationally that are unrelated to this outbreak.

As of July 16, CDC reported 1,644 cases and 94 hospitalizations. No deaths have been documented. Symptoms of this parasite include: watery diarrhea, fatigue, and loss of appetite. 

"This is on track to be the largest Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history,” wrote Max Teplitski, chief science officer, International Fresh Produce Association in a July 15 statement. “Michigan added more than 600 cases in a single day and is now above 3,300, with cases still accelerating. Our central concern is this: the response we are seeing will likely not slow this outbreak down or stop people from getting sick, nor is it intended to identify the root cause of the outbreak to prevent future outbreaks.” 

Teplitski was critical of social media and public health officials rushing to place blame instead of identifying a source. He wrote: “Assigning blame is not the same as identifying a source.  Without evidence, like a contaminated product test, there is no way for anyone, including industry partners, to know how this happened and prevent it from happening again.”

In this rapidly developing story, more news emerged on July 17. Taylor Farms de Mexico announced it was voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The statement reads: “While the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm that represents less than one per cent of the U.S.'s iceberg lettuce supply as the potential source of the outbreak, we have removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely.”

No Taylor Farms-branded salads or kits are associated with this outbreak. No Taylor Farms-branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce. 

Look for more news and analysis about this food safety story in the days to come. 

Source:  U.S. Center for Disease Control July 16, 2026 news release/International Fresh Produce Association July 15 statement/Taylor Farms July 17, 2026 statement.