US health officials identify lettuce as source of widespread diarrhea outbreak

US health officials have identified contaminated iceberg lettuce from a Mexican supplier as the source of a widespread cyclospora outbreak, causing diarrheal illness across multiple states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned consumers against eating shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia after linking it to the parasite *Cyclospora cayetanensis*. Illnesses in this outbreak began as early as May 13, 2026.

The contaminated lettuce was supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico. Following the investigation, Taco Bell ceased using the implicated lettuce, and Taylor Farms voluntarily removed all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market. This recall extended beyond the initial five states to include products shipped to 27 states, encompassing both foodservice operations and retail products sold under brands like Marketside at Walmart.

As of mid-July 2026, over 1,644 confirmed cases of cyclospora infection, resulting in 94 hospitalizations, have been tied to Taco Bell in the five Midwestern states. The CDC is actively investigating more than 7,000 suspected or confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in over 30 states nationally, indicating that additional sources for the widespread outbreak may exist.