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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday it concluded its investigation into the Cyclospora outbreak associated with iceberg lettuce from Mexico, finding “strong” evidence linking the infections to recalled products from Taylor Farms of Mexico.
The outbreak of cyclosporiasis – one of the most significant foodborne illnesses in recent U.S. history – has been linked to more than 12,800 cases in 21 states and hundreds of hospitalizations.
Two related deaths have been reported in Michigan, and both people had significant underlying health conditions, according to health officials.
The outbreak prompted a massive recall by Taylor Farms of Mexico, which announced in July that it was voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico from U.S. shelves.
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Packages of Taylor Farms salad greens are on display at a Safeway store in Kings Beach, California on July 16, 2026. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Following the recall, the FDA initiated on-site inspections in Mexico.
During its traceability investigation, the FDA said it identified several farms and a processing facility in Mexico that supplied the recalled shredded lettuce distributed by Taylor Fresh Foods.
Two environmental samples tested positive for Cyclospora, according to the FDA.
The agency said a positive sample came from a tank containing wastewater leaving the company’s treatment facility. The other was taken from a drainage ditch on an iceberg lettuce farm.
Although the FDA said it was unable to determine how the contamination occurred, the agency said the data strongly suggested the outbreak was linked to lettuce from Taylor Farms of Mexico.
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A drone view shows fields near the facilities of American supplier Taylor Farms, following the temporary closure announced by Taylor Farms, in Doctor Mora, Guanajuato state, Mexico, July 24, 2026. (Reuters/Daniel Becerril/Reuters)
“Although there is currently insufficient evidence to conclusively determine how contamination occurred during this outbreak, the positive samples show that Cyclospora was present in the environment where the lettuce was grown and processed,” the FDA said.
“This adds to the strong convergence of epidemiological and traceability data supporting the link between this outbreak and the recall of shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms of Mexico,” the agency added.
A spokesperson for parent company Taylor Fresh Foods addressed the FDA’s findings in a statement to Reuters.
“The independent producer where a positive sample was found is no longer part of our supplier program. The sample referenced by the FDA came from wastewater and sewage discharged outside of our treatment facility,” the spokesperson said.
“As the FDA noted in its report, there is currently insufficient evidence to conclusively determine how the contamination occurred or how the results from these samples relate to ongoing genotyping of clinical samples,” the spokesperson continued.
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The produce section at a Publix in Miami Beach, Florida. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
FOX Business has reached out to Taylor Farms for comment.
The FDA said it is confident that all recalled iceberg lettuce linked to the outbreak is out of the U.S. market.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously declared the outbreak over on September 11.
Cyclospora is a single-celled parasite that can cause stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, weight loss and other health problems, although some infected people remain asymptomatic, according to the CDC.
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