{"id":12349,"date":"2026-07-21T07:28:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T02:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=12349"},"modified":"2026-07-21T07:28:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T02:28:53","slug":"fda-still-looking-to-taco-bell-and-recalled-iceberg-lettuce-in-cyclosporiasis-outbreak-npr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=12349","title":{"rendered":"FDA still looking to Taco Bell and recalled iceberg lettuce in cyclosporiasis outbreak : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-134681\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 6871;&#10;        --source-height: 3900;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/1100\/quality\/50\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3900+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne illness caused by contaminated food or water carrying the Cyclospora parasite. FDA officials have yet to figure out the source of the outbreak that the CDC says has sicked more than 1,600 people this summer.\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne illness caused by contaminated food or water carrying the Cyclospora parasite. FDA officials have yet to figure out the source of the outbreak that the CDC says has sicked more than 1,600 people this summer.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    wildpixel via Getty<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><br \/>\n              <svg class=\"icon icon--info\"><use href=\"#icon-info\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n              <b>toggle caption<\/b><br \/>\n            <\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        wildpixel via Getty<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The source of the <em>Cyclospora<\/em> illness outbreak remains unknown, after the Food and Drug Administration announced Sunday that a previous test identifying the parasite in a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico was not actually contaminated with <em>Cyclospora<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The agency reviewed the results and said in a statement it &#8220;concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>On social media, however, the FDA clarified that &#8220;this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA&#8217;s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<div id=\"resnx-s1-5901356-100\" class=\"bucketwrap internallink insettwocolumn inset2col \">\n<div class=\"bucket img\">\n                  <a class=\"imagewrap\" id=\"featuredStackSquareImagenx-s1-5897509\" href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2026\/07\/17\/nx-s1-5897509\/lettuce-taco-bell-mexico-cyclospora-outbreak\" data-metrics-ga4=\"{&quot;category&quot;:&quot;recirculation&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:&quot;story_recirculation_click&quot;,&quot;clickType&quot;:&quot;inset box&quot;,&quot;clickUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.npr.org\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/17\\\/nx-s1-5897509\\\/lettuce-taco-bell-mexico-cyclospora-outbreak&quot;}\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/687x687+142+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F2f%2Fb962342f4658a40bcce01d90bb9c%2Fgettyimages-2286086545.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/687x687+142+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F2f%2Fb962342f4658a40bcce01d90bb9c%2Fgettyimages-2286086545.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/687x687+142+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F2f%2Fb962342f4658a40bcce01d90bb9c%2Fgettyimages-2286086545.jpg\" data-format=\"webp\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/687x687+142+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F2f%2Fb962342f4658a40bcce01d90bb9c%2Fgettyimages-2286086545.jpg\" data-original=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/687x687+142+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F2f%2Fb962342f4658a40bcce01d90bb9c%2Fgettyimages-2286086545.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/687x687+142+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F2f%2Fb962342f4658a40bcce01d90bb9c%2Fgettyimages-2286086545.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/687x687+142+0\/resize\/100\/quality\/100\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F2f%2Fb962342f4658a40bcce01d90bb9c%2Fgettyimages-2286086545.jpg\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/687x687+142+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F64%2F2f%2Fb962342f4658a40bcce01d90bb9c%2Fgettyimages-2286086545.jpg\" data-format=\"jpeg\" class=\"img lazyOnLoad\" alt=\"Taco Bell announced it is removing all iceberg lettuce from its supply chain and replacing it after federal health officials linked an outbreak of cyclosporiasis to a single supplier.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/a>         <\/p>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKETBLOCK\" -->\n      <\/div>\n<p><!-- END CLASS=\"BUCKET IMG\" -->\n   <\/div>\n<p><!-- END ID=\"RESNX-S1-5901356-100\" CLASS=\"BUCKETWRAP INTERNALLINK INSETTWOCOLUMN INSET2COL \" --><\/p>\n<p>The FDA&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/food\/outbreaks-foodborne-illness\/investigation-5-state-outbreak-cyclospora-illnesses-iceberg-lettuce-july-2026\" target=\"_blank\">recommendation<\/a> is still not to eat iceberg lettuce grown or processed by Taylor Farms in Mexico. The products were sold at Taco Bells in five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, and Taco Bell has said they are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tacobell.com\/newsroom\/taco-bell-statement\" target=\"_blank\"><u>no longer using<\/u><\/a> that lettuce. Iceberg lettuce products were also distributed in 27 states and Walmart stores in 15 states. Health officials recommend discarding any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/safety\/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts\/taylor-fresh-foods-recalls-iceberg-lettuce-central-mexico-because-possible-health-risk\" target=\"_blank\"><u>recalled iceberg lettuce<\/u><\/a> distributed by Taylor Fresh Foods.<\/p>\n<p>That recommendation is based on interviews done with sick people, many of whom had eaten at Taco Bell that included the lettuce.<\/p>\n<p>The FDA is continuing to test lettuce samples, and says it&#8217;s also testing produce at the southern border to check for <em>Cyclospora<\/em>. But so far none of this has turned up any positives.<\/p>\n<p>There are now over 1,600 confirmed cases of diarrhea caused by this water and food-borne parasite and a growing number of suspected cases in the thousands. Ninety-four people have been hospitalized. There have been no deaths reported.<\/p>\n<p>Taylor Farms <a href=\"https:\/\/www.taylorfarms.com\/newsroom\/taylor-fresh-foods-statement-regarding-cyclospora-outbreak\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>said in a statement<\/u><\/a> that the FDA apologized emphasizing that &#8220;FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for Cyclospora.&#8221; On July 17, the company did <a href=\"https:\/\/www.taylorfarms.com\/newsroom\/taylor-fresh-foods-statement-regarding-cyclospora-outbreak\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>voluntarily recall<\/u><\/a> all iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico and on Monday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.taylorfarms.com\/newsroom\/taylor-fresh-foods-statement-regarding-cyclospora-outbreak\/\" target=\"_blank\">clarified<\/a> that they are, &#8220;no longer sourcing iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico for the remainder of the growing season&#8221; and are working closely with public health officials.<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<aside id=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" class=\"mid-story-recommendations-mount-piano\" aria-label=\"recommended stories\"\/>\n<!-- END ID=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" CLASS=\"MID-STORY-RECOMMENDATIONS-MOUNT-PIANO\" ARIA-LABEL=\"RECOMMENDED STORIES\" --><\/p>\n<p>The parasite causes diarrhea, fatigue and nausea. To reduce the likelihood of infection from the parasite, health officials recommend cooking produce to 158 F. Washing produce thoroughly with water can help reduce the risk of cyclosporiasis.<\/p>\n<p>But some experts note that while cyclosporiasis cases are on track to break records this year, it is common to see several cases every summer.<\/p>\n<p>Identifying the source quickly certainly would help contain an outbreak \u2014 and perhaps save people from getting sick weeks down the line. But <a href=\"https:\/\/foodsci.rutgers.edu\/faculty\/schaffner\/\" target=\"_blank\"><u>Donald Schaffner<\/u><\/a>, a microbiologist at Rutgers University, says these are often separate and unrelated clusters.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Just because you&#8217;re sick with <em>Cyclospora<\/em> right now doesn&#8217;t mean that you&#8217;re part of this cluster of cases that have an epicenter in Michigan and Ohio,&#8221; he says. Every summer since the 1990s there have been several cyclosporasis outbreaks, though none as significant in size as this one. There are many potential sources of <em>Cyclospora<\/em>, and they don&#8217;t necessarily share a common source, he says. &#8220;Sometimes we can figure out what&#8217;s causing it, and sometimes we can&#8217;t.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>So that&#8217;s why we&#8217;re in limbo, he says.<\/p>\n<p>He also points out that sometimes people are exposed to the parasite from other ways besides food. The parasite could be in water that you drink or swim in, or water that may have been used on a batch of lettuce.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne illness caused by contaminated food or water carrying the Cyclospora parasite. FDA officials have yet to figure out the source of the outbreak that the CDC says has sicked more than 1,600 people this summer. wildpixel via Getty hide caption toggle caption wildpixel via Getty The source of the Cyclospora illness&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12350,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6871x3865+0+18\/resize\/1400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F04%2F3f%2F6dcab4eb4c50a11948370c385355%2Fgettyimages-2285641469.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}