In July 2026, health officials began investigating a fast-growing cyclosporiasis outbreak that has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce that was served at Taco Bell.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting cyclosporiasis food poisoning cases in all 50 states. If you got sick with a Cyclospora infection during the 2026 outbreak, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
2026 Update: Taco Bell Cyclospora Outbreak
The largest cyclospora cluster in years is now tied to Taco Bell. In July 2026, the FDA and CDC linked shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell to a Cyclospora outbreak in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. As of July 16, 2026, the outbreak included 1,644 illnesses and 94 hospitalizations, and it sits inside a national surge of roughly 7,000 cases across 34 states.
The FDA’s traceback identified a single iceberg lettuce supplier from Mexico. News outlets including CNN and The Washington Post have reported that the supplier is Taylor Farms, which was also linked to a 2013 cyclospora outbreak that sickened 631 people across 25 states. If you got sick with cyclospora after eating at Taco Bell, read our full Taco Bell Cyclospora Lawsuit page.
Walmart Marketside Lettuce Recalled for Cyclospora Risk
Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, including Marketside® bagged lettuce sold at Walmart, over possible Cyclospora contamination tied to a food poisoning outbreak. Here is more information:
- Recalled by: Taylor Fresh Foods / Taylor Farms de Mexico (Guanajuato, Mexico)
- Retail brand: Marketside (sold at select Walmart stores)
- Product: Iceberg lettuce, including Marketside Iceberg Salad (12 oz, 24 oz) and Marketside Shredded Lettuce (8 oz, 16 oz)
- Best if Used By dates (retail): July 18, 2026 through August 3, 2026
- Recall announced: July 17, 2026 (FDA published July 18, 2026)
- Reason: Possible Cyclospora contamination
- Recall type: Voluntary
- What to do: Discard the lettuce or return it to the store for a full refund
- Official source: FDA recall notice
What Is Cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness linked to the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. People become infected by eating food or drinking water that contains the parasite, most often fresh produce grown or handled in contaminated conditions.
Unlike many stomach bugs, cyclosporiasis does not usually spread directly from person to person, because the parasite has to spend days maturing in the environment before it can infect someone. Symptoms generally begin 2 to 14 days after exposure, about a week on average.
What Are the Symptoms of a Cyclospora Infection?
Health officials say a Cyclospora infection can produce a prolonged, draining illness. Reported symptoms include:
- Frequent, watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea
- Stomach cramps and bloating
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Fatigue and weight loss
- Low-grade fever in some cases
Without treatment, the illness can last from a few days to more than a month, and symptoms often improve for a while and then return. That relapsing pattern is one reason many people never connect a lingering illness to something they ate weeks earlier.
Why Do So Many Cyclospora Cases Go Undiagnosed?
Cyclosporiasis is frequently missed because a routine stool culture, the default test for acute diarrhea, does not detect Cyclospora. Confirming the parasite requires a specific order, such as a modified acid-fast stain or a Cyclospora PCR.
The practical result is that a patient can be told their stool test was “negative” and their illness is “probably viral” while still carrying an undiagnosed parasite. Once it is correctly identified, cyclosporiasis is treatable with prescription antibiotics. That kind of drawn-out, relapsing illness is exactly the pattern being reported in this outbreak.
What Foods Have Been Linked to Cyclospora Outbreaks?
No food has been confirmed as the source of the 2026 outbreak. However, health officials note that past U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreaks have repeatedly been traced to fresh produce, including:
- Bagged salad mixes and kits
- Fresh cilantro and basil
- Raspberries
- Snow peas
- Green onions
Because produce is often grown in one state, packaged in another, and shipped nationwide, a single contaminated ingredient can sicken people across many states before investigators trace it.
Do I Have a Cyclospora Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting cyclosporiasis injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know got sick with a Cyclospora infection during the 2026 outbreak, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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