Taylor Farms has expanded its voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico after they were linked to a multistate Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened people across the country.
The California-based company said the recalled shredded lettuce and salad products were distributed to 27 states, including Illinois, and have “best by” dates through Aug. 3. The company has stopped sourcing lettuce from the implicated lot in central Mexico and is removing affected products from the marketplace.
The expanded recall follows a federal investigation that identified lettuce from a Mexican supplier as the likely source of Cyclospora contamination in food served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Taco Bell said it voluntarily removed the affected ingredient from restaurants nationwide.
Taylor Farms’ recall includes 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products sold under multiple brand labels. Sysco, the nation’s largest food distributor, has also halted distribution of Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from Mexico and instructed customers to destroy any affected products.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can contaminate produce through contaminated water. It causes intestinal illness, including severe diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
The CDC reports at least 1,645 confirmed Cyclospora cases and 141 hospitalizations in the United States this year, while investigating more than 5,000 additional illnesses that may be linked to the parasite.