Key facts
- Taylor Farms temporarily closed its Central Mexico processing facility.
- The closure is linked to a multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak.
- U.S. health officials identified shredded iceberg lettuce from the facility as a source.
- The implicated lettuce was sold to Taco Bell, Sysco, and other distributors.
- Over 7,600 cases have been reported in Michigan alone, with hundreds of hospitalizations nationwide.
Taylor Farms has temporarily shut down its Central Mexico processing facility, which U.S. health officials have linked to an ongoing multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis. The facility produces 5-pound bags of shredded iceberg lettuce that were sold to Taco Bell, Sysco, and other large food distributors. Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled these products on July 17.
Cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by the cyclospora parasite, have been steadily increasing across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has connected the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in some states. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that traceback evidence points to Taylor Farms products originating from Central Mexico.
Michigan health officials reported 7,644 cases of the infection on Thursday, an increase of 473 from the previous day, with 160 hospitalizations and no reported deaths. The CDC stated earlier this week that 4,173 people across 41 states had contracted the parasite, resulting in 308 hospitalizations. The agency is also investigating over 7,400 additional reported infections that are awaiting laboratory confirmation, many of which are in Michigan and Ohio.
Separately, the FDA announced on Wednesday that it is investigating a new outbreak of cyclosporiasis involving 72 cases linked to an as-yet-unidentified source. The FDA's outbreak tracker currently shows six active cyclospora investigations, including four ongoing outbreaks and two that have concluded but remain under investigation.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services commented that the Trump administration has implemented a robust response to the outbreak, collaborating with health departments nationwide and promptly identifying known sources to inform the public. Additional implicated brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels may be identified as the FDA's investigation progresses.
However, Mexico's Health Minister David Kershenobich stated on Tuesday that there is currently no evidence suggesting that lettuce from Mexico caused the outbreak. U.S. health officials are continuing to investigate an outbreak in five states that has been linked to iceberg lettuce.