Taylor Farms recalls iceberg lettuce across 27 states over parasite risk

Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce distributed in 27 U.S. states after regulators linked shredded iceberg lettuce to a cyclosporiasis outbreak. The action affects product sourced from central Mexico and follows removals by Taco Bell and Walmart from parts of their supply chains.

The produce company said late Friday that Taylor Farms de Mexico is taking all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico out of the U.S. market. The company said the move was based on information from the Food and Drug Administration.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has traced the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in five states, including Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan. Yum Brands’ Taco Bell had already removed the potentially affected lettuce from its restaurants before Taylor Farms announced the broader recall.

Taylor Farms said the potentially contaminated shredded iceberg product was shipped from June 29 through July 16. The recall covers 27 states, including Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts and Texas, according to the company’s notice. California and New York were not listed among the affected states.

Cyclosporiasis is caused by Cyclospora, a parasite that can contaminate food or water. The FDA says infected people may develop flu-like symptoms and watery diarrhea with frequent bowel movements.

Traceback points to a limited supply source

Taylor Farms said the FDA’s traceback work indicated a specific independent farm as a possible source of the outbreak. The company said that farm accounts for less than 1% of U.S. iceberg lettuce supply.

The recall goes beyond that one farm. Taylor Farms said it has removed all iceberg lettuce from the central Mexico region indefinitely. In foodborne illness investigations, traceback analysis is used to follow food through the supply chain from restaurants, retailers or distributors back toward farms, processors and packing facilities.

The company described the action as voluntary. The FDA also posted an announcement on the Taylor Farms recall, identifying the issue as a possible health risk tied to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico.

Retailers take precautionary steps

Walmart posted a notice on its website Saturday after the FDA’s latest announcement. The retailer said the greens may have been sold at stores in states including Alabama, Indiana and West Virginia.

A Walmart spokesperson said in an emailed statement to CNBC that the company removed four bagged iceberg lettuce salad products from select locations after receiving notice from its supplier. The spokesperson said there was no indication that products sold in Walmart stores were affected by the current Cyclospora investigations.

Walmart said it acted as a precaution and is working with its supplier. The spokesperson added that there had been no confirmed illnesses associated with those products at that time.

The recall places another food-safety issue in the produce supply chain, where fresh greens move quickly through farms, processors, distributors, restaurants and retailers. For companies, the commercial impact depends in part on how broadly products are pulled, how long sourcing remains restricted and whether regulators identify additional affected lots.

The FDA, CDC, Taylor Farms, Taco Bell and Walmart have not attributed confirmed illnesses to Walmart’s listed products in the information disclosed. Taylor Farms said it is removing central Mexico-sourced iceberg lettuce from the U.S. market while regulators continue to assess the outbreak’s origin.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.