The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 6,358 cases in the iceberg lettuce cyclosporiasis outbreak as of Aug. 5, with 278 hospitalizations and two deaths. The outbreak is tied to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, and the lettuce had already reached consumers, restaurants and retailers in at least 27 states before the recall.
Cyclosporiasis is a parasite that can trigger stomach problems, and the scale of this outbreak shows how far the recalled product moved before the mid-July recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. People who bought the lettuce in stores or ate it at Taco Bell locations had already been exposed before the withdrawal narrowed the market.
Taylor Farms de Mexico recall
Taylor Farms de Mexico pulled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico in mid-July, after the outbreak had already spread across a wide retail and food-service footprint. The recalled lettuce included Marketside-brand products at select Walmart stores, along with lettuce sold to consumers, restaurants and retailers.
That distribution pattern matters for anyone trying to trace exposure. A single lot did not stay in one channel; it moved through stores, restaurant service and retail brands, which is why the CDC count rose into the thousands before the recall reached the public.
CDC count by Aug. 5
As of Aug. 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put the outbreak at 6,358 cases, 278 hospitalizations and two deaths. Those figures are the clearest snapshot of the event’s scale and the outcome for people who ate the contaminated lettuce before it was pulled from sale.
The CDC total also shows that the recall did not erase the health impact already recorded. The lettuce had been sold in at least 27 states, but which states received it is not specified in the available facts.
August FDA warning
In August, the Food and Drug Administration issued a separate warning on recalled fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. The agency said products made with the jalapeños may be contaminated with salmonella, and it told Americans not to eat, serve or sell them.
People who bought recalled Salsa Fresca or Salsa Roja from Whole Foods, pico de gallo from Walmart, or Taylor Farms guacamole from Target were told to toss those items in the garbage. For shoppers, the practical step is simple: check the recalled names, and discard any matching product rather than serving it.
