There is currently no evidence to suggest that lettuce sourced from Mexico caused a cyclosporiasis outbreak in the United States, Mexican Health Minister David Kershenobich said on Tuesday, despite a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report indicating that traceback data pointed to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico.
The outbreak, which causes severe diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, has been linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported approximately 100 hospitalizations related to the parasitic infection. According to CDC data, a total of 1,644 people infected with Cyclospora and reporting exposure to Taco Bell have been reported across five states, with illnesses dating from May 13 to July 13, 2026. Taco Bell is owned by Yum Brands.
"So far, no evidence has been found to indicate that it originated there," Kershenobich said during a regular government press conference, referring to the central Mexican state of Guanajuato where he said authorities were looking into the issue. "However, we are taking all precautions in case that were the case," he added.
The FDA's investigation into the source of the outbreak has been marked by conflicting information. On Saturday, the agency said a sample of Mexican lettuce from supplier Taylor Farms had tested positive for the parasite. However, on Sunday, it announced the result was a false positive following a re-review of the data by laboratory experts. The FDA then stated on Monday that its supply chain investigation continues to point to the company's Mexican facilities as the source of the parasite.
Mexico's sanitary regulator, Cofepris, and agricultural safety body, Senasica, said in a joint statement on Friday that an interagency technical group is conducting "strictly preventive" inspections and traceability analyses to mitigate health risks. Taylor Farms' growing and processing facilities in Mexico were the source of a major U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak in 2013 that sickened more than 600 people in 25 states, according to the CDC.
The company announced on July 17 that it was voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market as a precautionary measure. The FDA has not yet identified a confirmed positive product test result for Cyclospora.
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