FDA Says Taylor Farms Iceberg Lettuce Sample Tested Positive in US Parasite Outbreak

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms tested positive for Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite linked to a widespread foodborne illness outbreak that has sickened thousands of people across the United States. The finding marks a significant development in an ongoing investigation into one of the country’s largest food safety incidents this year.

According to the FDA, laboratory testing identified the parasite in a sample collected during targeted surveillance of products supplied by Taylor Farms. The agency said investigators are working to determine whether any contaminated lettuce remains in stores, restaurants, or consumers’ homes. Although the specific sample that tested positive was not part of the company’s original recall announcement, officials are continuing to trace the scope of the contamination.

The contaminated lettuce has been linked to a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite. The outbreak has primarily been associated with shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, where health investigators traced illnesses back to a common supplier.

Federal health officials report that the outbreak has resulted in more than 1,600 confirmed illnesses and at least 94 hospitalizations, though no deaths have been recorded. Patients commonly experience prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, bloating, weight loss and loss of appetite. Symptoms can last for weeks if left untreated and may be especially severe for people with weakened immune systems.

In response to the investigation, Taylor Farms de Mexico has voluntarily removed all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market and initiated a recall covering numerous shredded lettuce and salad products distributed across 27 states. The company said it has suspended shipments from the implicated source, notified customers, and is cooperating fully with the FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Taylor Farms emphasized that its branded salad kits do not contain iceberg lettuce and said the FDA’s traceback investigation has identified a specific independent farm as the likely source of the contamination. The company added that it has halted sourcing from the affected region indefinitely while the investigation continues.

The FDA has advised consumers not to eat recalled shredded iceberg lettuce and urged anyone who purchased affected products to discard them immediately. Restaurants and retailers have also been instructed to stop serving or selling implicated products and to thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces that may have come into contact with the contaminated lettuce.

The agency stressed that its investigation remains ongoing and warned that additional products, retailers, or distribution channels could be identified as more evidence emerges. Officials are also increasing inspections and border screening of imported produce to prevent further contaminated shipments from entering the U.S. food supply.

The outbreak has renewed concerns about food safety and the vulnerability of fresh produce supply chains. Public health experts say the incident underscores the importance of rapid traceability, routine testing, and close cooperation between regulators and food producers to contain outbreaks before they spread nationwide.