FDA Updates on Taco Bell Lettuce Supplier Amid Illness Reports
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revised its statements about the lettuce suppliers for Taco Bell as reports of illness continue to emerge across the country.
In a recent update, the FDA clarified that lettuce samples taken from Taylor Farms, a supplier in Mexico, tested negative for Cyclospora, a parasite known to cause severe gastrointestinal issues, including diarrhea. This announcement comes after an initial positive test result reported on July 18, 2026.
The FDA noted on its website, “We are updating information regarding a sample of lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms that tested positive earlier this month.”
Due to the complexities involved in detecting Cyclospora, FDA lab experts have reviewed the sample findings and concluded that the positive results were not accurate and should be regarded as a false positive. Updates regarding these samples will be removed. The FDA has communicated with Taylor Farms, and efforts are ongoing to ensure that any products involved in this outbreak are taken off store shelves. As of July 19, 2026, all product testing has returned negative for Cyclospora.
Despite this clarification, the FDA still warns consumers to avoid eating iceberg lettuce recalled from Taylor Farms, with an active investigation in motion.
Reports first from Breitbart News indicated that health officials in Michigan suggested that lettuce and salad greens may be linked to serious cases of gastrointestinal distress, affecting thousands across the nation.
The FDA has issued an apology to Taylor Farms for the erroneous test results, acknowledging the error.
This miscommunication retracts the FDA’s earlier statement tying the “explosive diarrhea” outbreak to a Taylor Fresh Farms subsidiary. Initially, it was claimed that the contaminated lettuce was sourced from Mexico and subsequently distributed to Taco Bell locations in several states, including Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.
According to the CDC, there have been over 1,600 reported cases of Cyclosporiasis, a condition caused by the Cyclospora parasite, affecting individuals across 34 states.
In a somewhat political twist, some Democratic lawmakers are reportedly attempting to place blame for the outbreak on President Donald Trump.
The FDA has announced a recall of the affected lettuce across states including Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, and Texas, among others.
