Cyclospora Outbreak: The 9 States, the Taco Bell Lettuce Link, and Exactly What the CDC Says to Do

Outbreak update — July 25, 2026: the CDC and FDA are investigating a nine-state cyclospora outbreak traced to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. The outbreak count stands at 1,947 cases with at least 98 hospitalizations and no deaths. The CDC advises against eating that lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations in five states — details below.

Which States Are Affected

Illnesses linked to this outbreak have been reported in nine states:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia

The Taco Bell Connection, Stated Precisely

This is the part worth getting exactly right. The CDC advises people not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

The contamination is attributed to the lettuce supplier — Taylor Farms de Mexico — not to the restaurant chain itself. Taco Bell locations are named because that is where investigators traced servings of the affected product, which is how foodborne traceback works: the supplier is the source, the restaurant is where the exposure happened.

The Recall: 27 States

On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Recalled product had been shipped to 27 states — far more than the nine where illnesses have been confirmed, which is why the CDC guidance matters even outside the outbreak states.

One nuance worth noting for accuracy: reporting in late July described an FDA lettuce test result that was later retracted as a false positive. Despite that, investigators have continued to focus on Taylor Farms lettuce based on epidemiologic and traceback evidence.

Symptoms: What Cyclosporiasis Feels Like

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite — not a bacteria — which is why the illness behaves differently from typical food poisoning. Symptoms include:

• Watery diarrhea — described as frequent and sometimes explosive (the defining symptom)
• Fatigue and nausea
• Loss of appetite, cramping, bloating, weight loss

Two things surprise people: symptoms often start about a week after eating the contaminated food — so the meal that made you sick may be long forgotten — and untreated cases can drag on for weeks, sometimes relapsing. It is treated with specific prescription antibiotics, so it is worth seeing a doctor rather than waiting it out.

What the CDC Says to Do

• Do not eat recalled iceberg lettuce — throw it out or return it.
• If you ate at a Taco Bell in IN, KY, MI, OH or WV and have symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
• Tell your doctor about the lettuce — cyclospora requires a specific test that is not part of a standard stool panel.
• Washing does not reliably remove cyclospora from produce.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Case counts, state list, supplier attribution and consumer guidance per CDC and FDA outbreak notices and reporting by CNBC, NPR, PBS NewsHour and CNN, July 2026. Counts change as the investigation continues — check cdc.gov for the current figures. This article is informational, not medical advice; contact a healthcare provider about symptoms. Photo: fresh lettuce (Unsplash), illustrative.