Investigation Update: Cyclospora Outbreak, July 2026

Epidemiologic and traceback data showed that iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico (a Taylor Farms central Mexico-based processor) was contaminated with Cyclospora and made people sick. The best-by dates for these recalled products have passed and they should no longer be available in stores or restaurants.

Epidemiologic data

Since the last update on August 5, 2026, state and local health officials have continued to interview additional cases of cyclosporiasis and CDC has added them to this multistate outbreak. The outbreak includes people who reported exposure to processed iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served or purchased at various locations, including people who previously reported eating at Taco Bell. Most of these illnesses began before the Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce recall on July 17, 2026. The total case count associated with this multistate outbreak is now 9,481 illnesses reported from 17 states. Since the last update, 2 additional states have been added: Maine and Massachusetts.

Illnesses linked to this outbreak began on June 14 and onset dates have continued through August 3, 2026. There have been at least 398 hospitalizations reported overall. Two deaths have been reported in Michigan. Of note, the total number of cases reported includes sick people who traveled to one of the 17 states but reside in different states.

The true number of sick people in this multistate outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported because it can take as long as 6 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of a Cyclospora outbreak. States in this outbreak may show different illness counts on their websites, as they may also include probable illnesses or update their websites at different frequencies. CDC and FDA are only reporting laboratory confirmed cases.

Epidemiologic and traceback data continue to show that iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico (a Taylor Farms central Mexico-based processor) was contaminated with Cyclospora and made people sick.

Epidemiologic data

Since the last update on July 24, 2026, state and local health officials have continued to interview additional cases of cyclosporiasis and CDC has added them to this multistate outbreak. Due to the additional interview data, the outbreak now includes people who reported exposure to Taco Bell or recalled Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce. Many of these illnesses began before the Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce recall on July 17, 2026. The total case count associated with this multistate outbreak is now 6,358 illnesses reported from 15 states. Since the last update, 6 additional states have been added: Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina.

Illnesses linked to this outbreak began on June 22 and onset dates have continued through July 31, 2026. There have been at least 278 hospitalizations reported overall. Two deaths have been reported in Michigan. Of note, the total number of cases reported includes sick people who traveled to one of the 15 states but reside in different states.

The true number of sick people in this multistate outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported because it can take as long as 6 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of a Cyclospora outbreak. States in this outbreak may show different illness counts on their websites, as they may also include probable illnesses or update their websites at different frequencies. CDC and FDA are only reporting laboratory confirmed cases.

Epidemiologic and traceback data continue to show that iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico was contaminated with Cyclospora and has made people sick.

Epidemiologic data

Since the last update on July 18, 2026, additional confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis related to this multistate outbreak have been reported, and the total case count associated with this multistate outbreak is now 1,947. This includes the addition of 4 states: Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the two weeks before they got sick. A total of 1,947people infected with Cyclospora and reporting exposure to Taco Bell have been reported by 9 states. Illnesses linked to this outbreak began on June 22 and onset dates have continued through July 20, 2026. There have been at least 98 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported. Of note, this number includes sick people who have traveled to states involved in the outbreak in the two weeks before their illness began and ate at Taco Bell.

The true number of sick people in this multistate outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported because it can take as long as 6 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of a Cyclospora outbreak. States in this outbreak may report different illness counts on their websites as they may also include probable illnesses. CDC and FDA are only reporting laboratory confirmed cases.

On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuces sourced from central Mexico.

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are continuing to collect different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections.

Epidemiologic and traceback data show that iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico is contaminated with Cyclospora and is making people sick.

Public health actions

Recalled product

On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuces sourced from central Mexico. Taylor Fresh Foods' recall notice included Marketside-brand product available at Walmart.

• Multiple lots

• Product was sold in various package types.

• Recalled lettuce was distributed and sold in multiple states to consumers, restaurants, and retailers.

See recall for more information.

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections in 5 states.

Do not eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico from 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.

Epidemiologic and traceback data show that shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at some Taco Bell locations is contaminated with Cyclospora and is making people sick. FDA is working to determine if this shredded iceberg lettuce went to other places.

Epidemiologic data

Based on epidemiologic information collected by CDC, a total of 1,644 people infected with Cyclospora and reporting exposure to Taco Bell have been reported by 5 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 13, 2026, to July 13, 2026. There have been 94 hospitalizations, and no deaths have been reported.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services analyzed food exposure details from 190 of the cases who reported eating at Taco Bell and shared these findings with CDC. Ingredient-level analyses on meals eaten by these cases indicate that 90% of those interviewed reported eating iceberg lettuce.

The true number of sick people in this multistate outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported because it can take as long as 6 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of a Cyclospora outbreak. States in this outbreak may report different illness counts on their websites as they are also counting probable illnesses. CDC and FDA are only reporting on laboratory confirmed cases.

Traceback and laboratory data

FDA's traceback investigation has identified convergence on a single supplier, Taylor Farms de Mexico, that provided shredded iceberg lettuce used by the Taco Bell locations where sick people ate before becoming ill. Not all Taco Bell locations in these states received shredded iceberg lettuce from the same supplier. Taco Bell is working to stop use of all lettuce implicated by this investigation, and Taylor Farms is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market.

FDA and state partners are collecting product samples for testing and analysis. FDA has also increased screening at the border for products implicated in the outbreak.

Public health action

On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico indicated it would remove all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market.

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

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis.

Epidemiologic data

As of July 13, more than 400 people infected with Cyclospora have been reported to CDC from 4 states in connection with this multistate outbreak: Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. CDC is aware of additional cases that are still under investigation. Sick people reported symptoms on or after June 22, 2026.

The true number of sick people in this multistate outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Cyclospora. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it can take several weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

Public health officials collect many different types of information from sick people, including their age, race, ethnicity, other demographics, and the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. This information provides clues to help investigators identify the source of the outbreak.