Did any bad lettuce make its way to South Florida? What we know so far

Shredded iceburg lettuce sent to certain Taco Bell locations from global salad giant Taylor Farms has been linked to the growing cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands of people, according to federal health officials.

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have determined that the California-headquartered supplier’s contaminated lettuce is linked to the ongoing cyclospora outbreaks across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, and are urging people to avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell in the affected states. The CDC said more than 1,644 sick people reported eating at Taco Bell across the five states.

“CDC is also investigating other outbreaks and illnesses of cyclosporiasis nationally that are unrelated to this outbreak,” reads the CDC’s investigation update. The federal health agency has received nearly 7,000 reports of people across the country experiencing diarrhea and other symptoms associated with cyclosporiasis. Florida has recorded just over 100 cases, with most of the cases recorded since June.

What is Taylor Farms?

The FDA said it’s working with Taylor Farms to determine if the contaminated lettuce was sent to other places. Taylor Farms, which describes itself as a “leading global producer of salads and healthy fresh foods” has its products in supermarkets, big-box stores and other retailers everywhere, including in South Florida. It has production facilities across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and western Europe.

The CDC, in a Friday morning alert, said that Taylor Farms lettuce was linked to illnesses associated with people who got sick after eating at Taco Bell in the select states and that “shredded iceberg lettuce sold in grocery stores or served in other restaurants is not affected.”

“This alert only includes illnesses that are lab confirmed and have been linked to this product, not all cyclosporiasis illnesses being reported to and by CDC,” the federal healthy agency said.

The news comes shortly after Taco Bell announced that it “voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.”

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Places you can find Taylor Farms products include Publix, Whole Foods, Winn Dixie, Fresco y Más, The Fresh Market, Walmart, Target, Sprouts Farmers Market and Dollar General, according to Taylor Farms’ website. Taylor Farms is also a supplier for Costco and for restaurants and fast-food chains like Chipotle and McDonald’s, according to Business Insider. The Miami Herald is contacting local supermarkets and retailers to find out if they’re taking any precautionary actions following the CDC and FDA’s findings.

Remember, Taylor Farms’ contaminated lettuce has been linked to the outbreaks in five states, but the rest of the country’s ongoing outbreaks are still under investigation. While we wait to officially find out the source of Florida’s outbreak, keep washing those grassy greens, fruits and veggies.

READ MORE: Miami sees rise in the diarrhea parasite. What foods should you avoid eating?

What causes cyclosporiasis?

A tiny parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis, is the source of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness that causes watery and explosive diarrhea. People can get the stomach bug by eating and drinking food and water contaminated with poop.

So far, the CDC has confirmed 1,645 cases of the stomach bug and is still investigating more than 5,000 other reported cases across the country.

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This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 10:45 AM.