Taylor Farms has expanded a voluntary recall of its iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico following a link to the multistate cyclospora outbreak that has sickened people across the United States, according to company and federal health officials.

The recalled products were shipped to 27 states including Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New Jersey. The announcement listed 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products sold under eight different brand codes with "best by" dates extending as late as Aug. 3. Sysco, the nation's largest food distributor, has halted distribution of all Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce products sourced from Mexico and instructed customers to destroy them.

U.S. health officials earlier this week identified lettuce from a supplier in Mexico as a source of cyclospora contamination found in food served at Taco Bell restaurants across five Midwestern states. The fast-food chain said it voluntarily removed the affected ingredient from its supply chain nationwide.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food exposed to contaminated water, typically through irrigation practices. When ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by frequent bowel movements, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative Republicans and food industry representatives emphasize that Taylor Farms' recall was voluntary and executed swiftly once the link to illness was identified. They argue this demonstrates the effectiveness of existing food safety systems without requiring new federal mandates.

Representative Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania, who chairs the House Agriculture Committee, praised the company's response. "This is exactly how the system is supposed to work," he said in a post on social media. "Private industry identified the problem and acted immediately to protect consumers."

The National Grocers Association noted that Taylor Farms and Sysco moved quickly once informed of potential contamination. The trade group, which represents supermarket chains, cautioned against new regulations it said could increase costs without improving safety.

"Voluntary recalls have proven effective when companies act responsibly," the association said in a statement. "Imposing additional federal requirements on traceability would burden smaller retailers with compliance costs while doing little to prevent contamination at the source."

What the Left Is Saying

Democratic lawmakers and public health advocates say the outbreak underscores the need for stronger FDA oversight of imported produce and more robust traceability requirements in the food supply chain.

Senator Patty Murray of Washington state, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee overseeing FDA funding, said in a statement that the agency must "use every tool available" to prevent contaminated imports from reaching consumers. The senator has previously pushed for increased funding for the Food and Drug Administration's foreign inspection program.

Consumer advocacy groups including Food & Water Watch called for mandatory country-of-origin labeling and stricter screening requirements for produce entering the U.S. from Mexico. The organization pointed to what it described as a pattern of foodborne illness outbreaks traced to imported vegetables in recent years, arguing that voluntary industry recalls alone are insufficient protections.

"When a single supplier can distribute contaminated products across nearly three dozen states before an outbreak is even identified, it's clear our regulatory system is," the group said in a statement, using the phrase "cannot keep up."

What the Numbers Show

The CDC reports 1,645 confirmed cyclospora cases in 2026 so far, with 141 hospitalizations. The agency is investigating more than 5,000 additional illnesses that may be linked to the parasite.

For comparison, only 249 cases had been reported at this point last year, meaning infections have increased roughly sixfold year-over-year.

Taylor Farms' recall covers products shipped as recently as Thursday and distributed through Sysco to retailers across 27 states. The company did not respond to requests for details about which retail chains received the affected products.

The Taco Bell outbreak was traced to restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Federal investigators have not confirmed whether Taylor Farms products were used exclusively at those locations or distributed more broadly through other food service customers.

The Bottom Line

Taylor Farms' expanded recall highlights ongoing concerns about imported produce safety as the U.S. increasingly relies on foreign agricultural suppliers. With cases rising dramatically from last year, pressure may build on FDA to strengthen import screening protocols.

The voluntary nature of the recall has already drawn scrutiny from both sides of the aisle, with Democrats calling for mandatory regulations and industry groups defending existing frameworks. Congress is not currently considering legislation addressing food traceability, but the outbreak could renewed interest in such measures when lawmakers return from summer recess.

Consumers who purchased Taylor Farms shredded lettuce products should check "best by" dates and dispose of any items matching affected product codes, health officials said.