With Cyclospora Lettuce Outbreak Over, Taylor Farms Speaks Up as FDA is Questioned
The U.S.’s largest-ever cyclosporiasis outbreak ended in September, with more than 12,000 sickened across 21 states, including 570 hospitalizations and two deaths. The outbreak was linked to iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico, processed by Taylor Farms of Mexico, and distributed throughout the U.S. by Taylor Fresh Foods.
FDA officially closed its outbreak investigation on October 2, without having determined the root cause of contamination. The agency did, however, collect two Cyclospora-positive samples: one from a tank that held outgoing wastewater from the Taylor Farms of Mexico processing facility, and another collected from a drainage ditch of an independent iceberg lettuce grower, which was part of Taylor Farms' supplier program. FDA said that the positive environmental samples add to the strong epidemiological data and traceback convergence supporting the link between the cyclosporiasis outbreak and recalled shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms of Mexico.
Taylor Farms Responds to Cyclospora Outbreak
On October 8, 2026, Taylor Farms Founder and CEO, Bruce Taylor, published a letter responding to the outbreak and outlining the company’s next steps. In his statement, Mr. Taylor reiterated FDA’s finding that “there is currently not enough evidence to conclusively determine how contamination occurred.” He continued by listing steps that Taylor Farms is taking to enhance food safety, “regardless” of the fact that FDA could not find the root cause of contamination.
Taylor Farms will:
- Indefinitely suspend the harvesting and processing of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico for sale in the U.S. or Canada during the U.S. Cyclospora season, which mirrors the rainy season in central Mexico
- Expanding existing year-round health monitoring and increasing irrigation water and crop testing in central Mexico
- Investing in new research and technology to improve Cyclospora detection and prevention tools
- Participating in a public-private task force to identify Cyclospora prevention methods for growers, working alongside FDA, scientists, industry, and public health officials.
The company also intends to collaborate with FDA as it implements its Cyclospora Prevention, Response and Research Action Plan—one of ten actions FDA is taking to prevent future Cyclospora outbreaks, which were announced alongside its final outbreak investigation report.
Consumer Reports Questions FDA About Outbreak Response
Also on October 8, Consumer Reports published a letter to FDA Acting Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, Donald Prater, D.V.M., expressing concern regarding the agency’s response to the recently concluded Cyclospora outbreak.
Consumer Reports asserted that, throughout the investigation, FDA’s response was “hindered by notable delays and a lack of transparency.”
“Although initial evidence pointed to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms of Mexico as a source of contamination, FDA investigators took nearly a month to launch environmental sampling and on-site inspections in Mexico,” wrote Consumer Reports. “Additionally, the recall classification was delayed for over a month, creating widespread public confusion.”
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Requesting a reply by November 6, Consumer Reports asked FDA several specific questions about its outbreak response, including the reasons for certain delays, whether inadequate staffing or consolidation of communications functions within FDA had an effect, and why an Import Alert was not issued.
The full letter can be read here.
