Taylor Farms recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on Friday, July 17, after federal investigators linked the produce to a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands across 34 states. Taco Bell, which operates 111 locations in New Jersey, said it completed removal of the affected lettuce from all restaurants nationwide the same day.
The Salinas, California-based supplier announced the voluntary recall after the FDA's traceback investigation identified a single farm in central Mexico as the likely source of the outbreak. Taylor Farms supplies produce to Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Walmart and Trader Joe's, though there has been no indication tainted lettuce reached grocery retailers.
What the FDA advisory says
The FDA advised consumers to avoid shredded lettuce at Taco Bell locations in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. The agency said not every Taco Bell in those states received the recalled product, but the advisory applies to all locations there. The FDA noted additional states may be added as the investigation continues and said it is working to determine whether contaminated lettuce was sent elsewhere.
New Jersey is not among the five states named.
The outbreak by the numbers
The CDC confirmed 1,645 domestic cases of cyclosporiasis as of Monday, July 13, with 141 hospitalizations and zero deaths. State health departments have collectively reported more than 7,000 cases since May 1, far exceeding the CDC's confirmed count due to a six-week reporting lag between illness onset and federal case verification. Michigan has been hardest hit, with more than 5,000 state-confirmed cases as of July 17, most of which have not yet been verified in the CDC's national tally. The 2026 outbreak is on pace to surpass the previous U.S. record of roughly 4,700 cases set in 2019.
What residents should know
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness. Symptoms typically begin about one week after infection and can include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue and low-grade fever. The illness spreads through contaminated food or water, not person to person. Most people recover with antibiotic treatment, but symptoms can last weeks if untreated.
Taylor Farms said no branded salad kits contain iceberg lettuce and no other Taylor Fresh Foods products are affected. The implicated farm represents less than 1% of the U.S. iceberg lettuce supply, the company said.
HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard said Friday, July 17, that the investigation remains active and additional restaurants, retailers or products may be identified.
The NJ Department of Health has not issued a public statement specific to this outbreak. Residents who develop symptoms should contact their health care provider. For updates, visit fda.gov or cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis.
