U.S. regulators have detected Cyclospora in a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico, prompting an expanded recall as authorities and the company work to determine whether any implicated product remains in the market or in homes.
Positive test and broader pullback
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the contaminated sample was flagged during targeted import surveillance. The agency noted the positive lot was detained and was not included in the company’s existing recall. Taylor Farms, based in California, has already suspended distribution of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and is removing those products from the U.S. market as a precaution.
"We are actively removing the implicated products," the company said in its recall notice. "The company has stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of the iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico, notified our customers, and we are continuing to work with the FDA, CDC, and state authorities."
What products are affected
The recall encompasses retail bagged salads under the Marketside label and a range of foodservice items. According to the FDA, the affected retail products include:
- Marketside Iceberg Salad – 12-ounce and 24-ounce bags
- Marketside Shredded Iceberg Lettuce – 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags
These products were distributed between June 29 and July 16 with “best if used by” dates from July 18 through Aug. 3. The FDA said the distribution covered 27 U.S. states, and the recall also extends to numerous foodservice products.
| Product | Package size | Distribution window | Best-by dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketside Iceberg Salad | 12 oz, 24 oz | Jun 29–Jul 16 | Jul 18–Aug 3 |
| Marketside Shredded Iceberg | 8 oz, 16 oz | Jun 29–Jul 16 | Jul 18–Aug 3 |
Outbreak context and corporate responses
The recall follows the FDA’s announcement that Taco Bell has stopped using lettuce from a supplier tied to a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak. As of the latest update, regulators report 1,644 illnesses and 94 hospitalizations across five states, with no deaths reported. Taco Bell said it voluntarily removed potentially affected lettuce from the supplier in select states where illnesses have been recorded.
While the positive test was identified in a lot held by import authorities, Taylor Farms is taking additional steps to notify customers, halt shipments of implicated product and cooperate with public health agencies as the investigation continues.
What it means for households and businesses
For consumers in the United States, the priority is to check refrigerators and discard any of the listed Marketside iceberg products with the noted date ranges. Foodservice operators and retailers that source iceberg lettuce or bagged salads should review purchase records from late June to mid-July and isolate or dispose of inventory matching the affected codes. The FDA’s targeted import surveillance, and the company’s suspension of distribution from central Mexico, signal tighter controls that could temporarily affect supply availability of iceberg lettuce and prepared salads.
For grocers and restaurants, the immediate impact is operational: product pulls, supplier substitutions and potential menu adjustments where iceberg lettuce is a key input. Distributors may face logistics re-routing as they avoid implicated lots and prioritize alternative sources. While the company has emphasized active removal of product and cooperation with authorities, the breadth of distribution across 27 states suggests a multi-week exercise in inventory reconciliation.
Next steps
- Regulators will continue testing and traceback to pinpoint the contamination source.
- Taylor Farms is assessing whether any implicated product remains in commerce or homes.
- Foodservice customers and retailers should monitor updates from the FDA and the company for additional lot codes or guidance.
The FDA’s import detention of the positive lot and the company’s voluntary actions underscore a rapid response intended to limit exposure while the investigation proceeds.
