FDA and CDC Trace Cyclospora Outbreak to Taco Bell Lettuce as Investigation Continues

Federal investigators have identified shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants in 5 states as the source of a regional Cyclospora outbreak, marking a significant development in what has become the largest US cyclosporiasis season on record.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC announced July 16 that the outbreak has been traced to shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Although federal officials have not publicly named the supplier in official announcements, multiple news organizations, citing officials familiar with the investigation, identified the supplier as Taylor Farms.

The FDA emphasized that the Taco Bell-associated illnesses represent only a subset of the nationwide increase in Cyclospora infections being reported this year. According to the agency, 1,644 people who became ill reported eating at Taco Bell before developing cyclosporiasis. Of those patients, 94 required hospitalization. Illness onset dates ranged from May 13 through July 13, 2026. No deaths have been reported.

Not every Taco Bell location in the affected states received the implicated lettuce. However, the FDA advises consumers not to eat food containing shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia while the investigation continues. Taco Bell has begun removing the implicated lettuce from affected locations. Additional states could be added if investigators identify further distribution of the product.

A traceback investigation identifies the source

According to federal investigators, epidemiologic evidence collected during patient interviews led Michigan health officials to analyze food-exposure data from nearly 200 individuals who reported eating at Taco Bell. Those data pointed investigators to shredded iceberg lettuce, allowing the FDA to conduct a traceback investigation that identified a single supplier in Mexico.

Several national news outlets subsequently reported that the supplier was Taylor Farms, one of the country's largest produce distributors. As of publication, Taylor Farms had not publicly responded to multiple media requests regarding the investigation.

Whether additional food service companies or retailers received lettuce from the same production lots remains under investigation. Federal officials have indicated the product may have been distributed beyond Taco Bell, although no additional public advisories have been issued at this time.

A record Cyclospora season

The Taco Bell investigation is unfolding against the backdrop of an unprecedented nationwide increase in Cyclospora infections. Earlier this week, CDC surveillance data showed thousands of confirmed and suspected illnesses across dozens of states, far exceeding seasonal averages and previous annual records.

Infection Control Today^® has closely followed this developing story:

• Cyclospora Cases Surge Across the United States as CDC Investigates Record Outbreak
• What Infection Preventionists Should Know About Cyclospora and Foodborne Parasites
• How to Protect Yourself from Cyclospora

Those reports examined the dramatic increase in cases, explained recent changes to FoodNet surveillance reporting, and reviewed the epidemiology of Cyclospora cayetanensis.

What infection preventionists should know

Cyclospora is a microscopic intestinal parasite transmitted through contaminated food or water. Unlike many bacterial foodborne pathogens, the parasite requires time in the environment before becoming infectious, making person-to-person transmission uncommon.

Symptoms typically develop about 1 week after exposure but may take as long as 2 weeks. Patients commonly experience prolonged watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and low-grade fever. Without treatment, symptoms may relapse over several weeks. Immunocompromised individuals may develop more severe disease.

Shahbaz Salehi, MD, MPH, MSHIA, director of infection prevention and control and employee health for Foothill Regional Medical Center in Tustin, California, emphasized that preparation before a suspected case is identified can help hospitals respond more efficiently.

"One way to prepare for potential Cyclospora cases is to contact your local health department and reference laboratories to understand their testing process," Salehi said. "Because Cyclospora is not routinely detected during standard stool ova and parasite examinations, it is important to know the appropriate testing requirements and ordering process before a case is suspected at your hospital."

Salehi noted that understanding laboratory capabilities and reporting requirements in advance can help reduce delays in diagnosis, facilitate timely treatment, and support public health investigations.

The outbreak has also renewed concerns about the importance of robust foodborne disease surveillance. Brenna Doran, PhD, MA, ACC, CIC, AL-CIP, consultant/coach for Innovative Partners Institute in San Francisco, California, said the investigation underscores the consequences of weakened surveillance infrastructure.

"This Cyclospora outbreak is a textbook exemplar of the human cost of cutting pathogen surveillance funding," Doran said. "When public health's ability to respond is delayed, the system fails the very people it is meant to protect. How many lives will be negatively affected before we realize routine surveillance is a necessity, not an example of funding abuse?"

The recommended treatment for cyclosporiasis remains trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). Infection preventionists should also work closely with clinicians, microbiology laboratories, and public health officials when cases are identified to ensure appropriate testing, reporting, and investigation.

Investigation remains active

Federal officials continue working with state and local public health agencies to determine whether additional products or distribution channels are involved. Consumers who recently ate Taco Bell in the affected states and develop symptoms consistent with cyclosporiasis should seek medical evaluation and notify their health care provider about their food exposures.

The FDA advises consumers to avoid shredded iceberg lettuce served at affected Taco Bell locations until the investigation concludes and to thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with the product to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Taco Bell has responded:

“Based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell has taken immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states. The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states.

“While no official advisory has been issued, we believe public health is a shared responsibility among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities, and we are proud to have consistently acted quickly and proactively to protect our guests. Taco Bell has taken precautionary action, and we encourage all relevant restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators to do the same.”

As traceback activities continue, health officials expect additional information regarding product distribution and the overall scope of the outbreak to become available.