The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified recalled iceberg lettuce linked to a widespread Cyclospora outbreak as a Class 1 recall, the agency’s highest risk category, after illnesses were reported across 20 U.S. states.
The recalled lettuce products were produced by Taylor Farms and were linked to infections caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which can trigger severe intestinal illness. The update came as health authorities continued investigating thousands of reported cases.
FDA Places Recalled Lettuce Under Highest Risk Classification
According to Newsweek, the FDA announced that the recalled iceberg lettuce products from Taylor Farms met the criteria for a Class 1 recall.
The agency defines this category as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”
The recalled products included shredded lettuce and salad mix items made with iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico. The products were distributed across 27 states before the recall was issued, with some packages carrying “best by” dates through August 3, 2026.
Taylor Farms said all affected products had been removed from the market.
Cyclospora Cases Spread Across More States
The FDA added Georgia, Tennessee and Texas to the list of states connected to the outbreak, bringing the total number of affected states to 20.
The states already identified included Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 11,458 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases linked to the outbreak, including 495 hospitalizations. Michigan reported the first two deaths connected to the outbreak earlier in August.
The CDC’s wider surveillance data showed 17,180 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States since May 1, along with 922 hospitalizations and two deaths.
Health Officials Continue Testing And Tracing The Source
The FDA said it was continuing inspections and testing at farms and processing facilities in Mexico while working with Mexican authorities.
The agency said it remained confident that recalled iceberg lettuce connected to this specific outbreak had been removed from stores and restaurants.
The investigation focused on Taylor Farms after the FDA linked shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell to the outbreak. Taco Bell said it had removed the affected ingredient from its supply chain nationwide.
A Taylor Farms spokesperson told Newsweek that the company had removed potentially affected products, suspended iceberg lettuce sourcing and production from central Mexico, and commissioned an independent review of food safety procedures.
The company also said: “There have been no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora as of August 13, 2026.”
What Consumers Need To Know About Cyclospora
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can contaminate food through contact with water or environments affected by human waste.
The infection can cause prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and other digestive symptoms. The CDC said symptoms may appear about one week after exposure and can continue for more than a month without treatment.
Diagnosis can be difficult because standard stool tests may not detect the parasite, and specialized testing is often required.
Health officials are continuing to investigate additional cyclosporiasis clusters to determine whether more illnesses are connected to contaminated food sources.
