A parasite found in shredded lettuce has made nearly 7,000 people sick across the United States, triggering a recall in 27 states as of July 18, 2026. The lettuce came from Taylor Farms de Mexico, and was sold at Taco Bell restaurants, according to federal health officials.

The CDC said on July 18 that its investigation points to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as the cause. A sample of the company's lettuce tested positive for the parasite that same day, according to the FDA. The lettuce was packed into 5-pound bags at a Taylor Farms facility in Guanajuato, Mexico, and sent to Taco Bell locations, mainly in five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The FDA first warned the public on July 16, telling people not to eat the recalled lettuce.

Taylor Farms de Mexico started a voluntary recall of all its iceberg lettuce from central Mexico on July 17. Sysco, a food distributor, also pulled iceberg lettuce from central Mexico linked to the outbreak. Wendy's and Chipotle both said they were not affected. The recall grew to 27 states the next day. The FDA planned to inspect the Taylor Farms facility in Guanajuato to find out how the parasite got into the lettuce.

The number of sick people has risen quickly. The CDC reported 1,644 illnesses linked to the Taco Bell lettuce as of July 17. Michigan alone had 5,002 cases by about July 17, and that number climbed past 6,000 by about July 20. Nationwide, there were nearly 7,000 confirmed or suspected cases by about July 20.

The parasite is called Cyclospora cayetanensis. It causes an illness called cyclosporiasis, which affects the intestines. People get it by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with human waste carrying the parasite. The parasite is common in warm, tropical regions and has shown up before in fresh produce imported into the United States. Unlike bacteria such as E. coli or Salmonella, this parasite cannot be grown in a standard lab. Confirming it requires special equipment, which can slow down the investigation.

Mexican authorities said on July 17 that they are working with U.S. investigators. Three Mexican agencies — COFEPRIS (the federal health regulator), the Dirección General de Epidemiología, and SENASICA (the national food safety service) — are reviewing the lettuce supply chain.

But by July 21, Mexico's Health Minister said there is no evidence that lettuce from Mexico caused the outbreak. A sample taken in Doctor Mora, Guanajuato state, had initially tested positive for the parasite but was later found to be a false positive. That retraction removes one piece of evidence from Mexico's side. U.S. investigators, though, say their evidence still points to Taylor Farms de Mexico.

The broader context here is that when the U.S. and Mexico disagree on the source of a food safety problem, it matters beyond this one outbreak. Mexican farmers sell a huge amount of produce to the United States, and if buyers lose confidence, it can affect what restaurants and stores decide to purchase. The FDA's inspection of the Taylor Farms facility could help settle the question, but because this parasite is hard to find in the environment, clear answers could take weeks.

The way this lettuce was distributed also raises concerns. It was all processed into 5-pound bags at one facility in Mexico and then shipped to a national restaurant chain. That means if something goes wrong at one point, the problem can reach people in many states at the same time. This outbreak is much larger than the usual seasonal cases of this illness, which are typically smaller and harder to trace.

For now, the recall is still in effect. The CDC and FDA are still investigating, and Mexican regulators are doing their own review. The FDA's current advice to consumers is still to avoid the recalled lettuce from Taco Bell in the five-state region.