Social media users were taken aback recently when they noticed a Whole Foods store selling shredded Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce at a 50% discount. This caught attention amid federal investigations into an outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite known to cause severe diarrhea, which has been linked to the company’s Mexican lettuce.
The sale was seen over the weekend at a Whole Foods in Manhattan, with discounted bags tagged under an “Enjoy Today” label. However, it remains unclear if this discount is available at Whole Foods locations nationwide.
A photo depicting the sale was shared on Bluesky, where journalist John Christian pointed out that this discount does not seem to be part of any recent recall related to contaminated items. He humorously remarked on the deal’s sudden appearance.
Officials from Whole Foods clarified in a response that the lettuce sold at their New York City store is sourced from the U.S. rather than Mexico, and assured that recalled products are not stocked in their stores.
The price drop has sparked a frenzy of mockery online, with many users questioning why Taylor Farms’ shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the shelves amid the ongoing federal inquiry. One commenter quipped, “The cost is on the back end,” while others suggested humorous rebranding like “organic laxative” or “weight loss salad.”
Yet, not everyone found it funny. Some shoppers expressed frustration, with comments like, “They seriously don’t pull this off the shelf…it’s embarrassing,” and inquiries about why the product wasn’t removed from sale.
This sale arrives at a time when consumers are uneasy about lettuce safety, as federal investigations have linked several cyclospora outbreaks across states to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in Mexico. In response, Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled its iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and reiterated that its salad kits and packaged salads are not implicated in the outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,645 cases of cyclosporiasis in 34 states from May 1 to July 15, resulting in 141 hospitalizations, yet no fatalities. Federal officials are also looking into over 5,100 additional cases to evaluate their ties to domestic transmissions, indicating that the confirmed number may rise further.
Current outbreaks are largely associated with Taco Bell restaurants in regions such as Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Investigators found that shredded iceberg lettuce was a common ingredient among many affected individuals. The FDA’s focus has been on the shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms in Mexico.
In Michigan, up to 90% of interviewed Taco Bell customers reported consuming iceberg lettuce before falling ill, according to the FDA.
Taylor Farms has stated that the links to the outbreak are based on traceback investigations rather than contaminated product samples, emphasizing that an initial lettuce sample thought to contain the parasite turned out to be a false alarm. Nonetheless, officials still maintain a connection to the outbreak and Taylor Farms’ shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico.
Efforts to contact Whole Foods and Taylor Farms for further comments are ongoing.
