Central Coast farm company linked to national intestinal parasite outbreak
A Central Coast agricultural company is reportedly facing federal scrutiny over its possible role in the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak that’s spread across the United States this month.
On Thursday, the Washington Post was first to report that two sources familiar with the federal government’s investigation linked lettuce supplied by Salinas-based Taylor Farms and used at Taco Bell restaurants in the Midwest to the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis occur when a person with the cyclospora parasite and poor hand hygiene handles food. Once the food is contaminated, it can spread to consumers.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Friday morning that shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia was under investigation, and advised consumers to avoid products from the restaurant chain containing the lettuce.
The outbreak was traced to a single supplier in Mexico, according to findings from an FDA investigation announced Thursday.
In a statement emailed to The Sacramento Bee on Friday, the company said it was pulling the lettuce from the market.
Taylor Farms said the FDA identified a specific independent farm that represents less than 1% of the United State’s iceberg lettuce supply as the potential source of the outbreak. No other Taylor Fresh Foods products in the United States are affected by the FDA’s findings, the company said.
It also said that no Taylor Farms salad kits contain iceberg lettuce.
“As a family owned and operated company, we are deeply concerned for those who became ill, their families, and the many Americans whose trust in the safety of their fresh produce has been shaken,” the statement to The Sacramento Bee said. “That trust is something we’ve worked for decades to earn, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to restore that confidence.”
According to the CDC’s most recent statement, the products believed to be responsible for the outbreak are not currently under recall.
Taylor Farms describes itself as “the leading global producer of salads and healthy fresh foods,” and operates some 30 processing plants across Northern America, including three Central Coast locations — its Salinas headquarters and facilities in Guadalupe and Gonzales.
California mostly clear of outbreak
Cyclosporiasis is the intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, which can only be seen under a microscope and spreads quickly by ingesting food or drink that’s come into contact with infected feces — in this case, mostly raspberries, basil, cilantro, snow peas and mesclun lettuce, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, since May 1, the agency has confirmed 1,645 lab-confirmed cases of domestically acquired Cyclospora, and is aware of more than 5,100 additional reports that require further analysis to confirm they meet the case definition.
However, according to the California Department of Public Health, from January to June 2026, California has reported 41 provisional cases of cyclosporiasis, compared to 80 cases during the same period in 2025, while the annual average number of cases from 2015 to 2025 is 106 cases.
Fruits and vegetables should be washed under running water with the hands or a brush, and should immediately be stored in the refrigerator, San Luis Obispo County health officer Dr. Rick Rosen said.
Heating food to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit can also kill cyclospora, according to the state of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services, which is one of four states currently experiencing the highest number of cases.
