Taylor Farms alters Mexican lettuce production following massive Cyclospora outbreak

Taylor Farms chief executive Bruce Taylor has announced that the company will indefinitely suspend harvesting and processing iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico for sale in the United States or Canada during the Cyclospora season. According to Just Food and Food Safety News, the executive issued a statement after federal officials concluded their inquiry into the issue. Just Food reported that the producer is making operational adjustments to enhance safety across its supply chain. [3][4]

The announcement follows the official conclusion of the Food and Drug Administration investigation. According to Food Safety News, the outbreak was the largest Cyclospora event in United States history, sickening nearly 13,000 individuals and requiring 560 hospitalizations. As FTMQ Food reported earlier, the outbreak also resulted in two deaths after contamination was detected at a Taylor Farms facility and a contract farm in Central Mexico. [3][4][8]

Supermarket News and Marler Blog both report that the suspension of Mexican lettuce production aligns with the local rainy season. Marler Blog noted that the company plans to join a joint task force with the Food and Drug Administration to address produce safety protocols. Food Safety Magazine reported that the regulatory agency is also facing questions regarding its handling of the outbreak after the investigation ended. [1][5][6]

The decision directly impacts fresh produce distribution throughout North America during peak risk months. As FTMQ Food reported earlier, federal regulators drafted a ten-point prevention strategy ahead of the 2027 growing season to mitigate future agricultural contamination risks. Just Food noted that Taylor Farms intends to implement additional safety steps beyond the seasonal harvest suspension. [4][8][9]