Taylor Farms has expanded its voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce to 27 states following a CDC investigation that traced the contaminated produce to a supplier in central Mexico. Federal health officials linked the lettuce to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that causes severe diarrhea.
The recall affects shredded iceberg lettuce distributed across multiple states. The CDC's epidemiological investigation identified the specific supplier in Mexico as the source of the contamination. Cyclosporiasis spreads through water or food contaminated with a particular parasite, and the outbreak has prompted swift action from both the company and federal regulators.
Taylor Farms, a major produce distributor, initiated the recall voluntarily after being notified of the health risk. The company manufactures and distributes fresh-cut vegetables and salad products to retailers and foodservice operations nationwide. The scope of the recall across 27 states indicates significant distribution of the contaminated product before detection.
The CDC has been investigating illnesses linked to the contaminated lettuce, tracking cases and identifying patterns to pinpoint the source. Cyclosporiasis cases typically emerge in clusters and can spread rapidly if contaminated produce reaches consumers before a recall is announced. Symptoms include severe watery diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal cramps, and weight loss.
Consumers in affected states have been advised to check their homes for Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce products and discard them. Retailers have removed the product from shelves. The incident underscores ongoing food safety challenges in the produce supply chain, particularly with items sourced from Mexico that require careful inspection and testing.
This marks another chapter in the long history of produce-related illness outbreaks in the United States. Previous cases have involved romaine lettuce, spinach, and other fresh vegetables contaminated with pathogens like E. coli and salmonella