By now you’ve probably heard the headlines: a lettuce recall, a nasty stomach bug, dozens of states involved. But if you’re like most of us, you skimmed past the scary word (Cyclospora, try saying that five times fast) and are really just wondering one thing: is the lettuce in my fridge one of the ones we’re talking about?

Let’s figure that out.

Photo: Pexels

The Short Version

Taylor Farms has recalled shredded and blended iceberg lettuce that was sold to food service companies and to Walmart under the Marketside brand, after the product was linked to a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora, a parasite that causes some seriously unpleasant, seriously long-lasting digestive symptoms. The recalled lettuce went out between June 29 and July 16, 2026, to 27 states:

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Iowa
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Massachusetts
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Missouri
  • Mississippi
  • North Carolina
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • Wisconsin
Photo: Pexels

The source, according to health officials, traces back to iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico. Taylor Farms de Mexico says it’s pulled all lettuce from that region out of the U.S. market, stopped receiving product from the lot in question, and is working with the FDA, CDC, and state health departments to sort out what happened.

Wait, Did This Hit Any Restaurants?

Yes — and this is probably the part you actually clicked for. Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia received the recalled lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. The chain has said it’s no longer sourcing from that supplier. If you’re not sure whether your local spot was affected, it’s always fair game to just ask; any restaurant should be able to tell you where their produce comes from.

And Here’s Everything On The Recalled Product List

If you’re a home cook, the products most likely to be sitting in your fridge right now are the retail bags sold at Walmart under the Marketside name:

  • Marketside Iceberg Salad — 12 oz. and 24 oz. bags, Best if Used By 7/18/2026 through 8/3/2026
  • Marketside Shredded Lettuce — 8 oz. and 16 oz. bags, Best if Used By 7/18/2026 through 8/3/2026

Beyond that, a long list of food-service-only products (the bulk bags that go to restaurants, cafeterias, and catering companies rather than grocery shelves) is also part of the recall, sold under several different brand codes:

  • CV
  • JB
  • MARK
  • PK
  • SUB
  • SY
  • TF

These include various shredded and blended iceberg lettuce mixes — think chopped lettuce, lettuce/romaine blends, and salad mixes — with Best if Used By dates scattered between 7/16/2026 and 8/3/2026, depending on the exact product and code. Because those dates vary quite a bit by brand and cut, anyone working in food service should double check their own delivery records against the complete FDA list rather than relying on a general date range.

Photo: Pexels

Okay, But How Serious Is This, Really?

Pretty serious, unfortunately, even if it’s rarely deadly. The CDC has tallied nearly 7,000 confirmed and suspected cases across 34 states so far, with 141 hospitalizations. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported.

Cyclospora isn’t your average 24-hour stomach bug, either. It typically causes:

  • Watery diarrhea and frequent trips to the bathroom
  • Nausea and cramping
  • Bloating and gas
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite

Unlike a lot of foodborne illnesses, it can drag on for weeks, sometimes seeming to get better before flaring back up again. Anyone who’s immunocompromised is at risk for a rougher, longer bout of it.

One more tidbit worth knowing: the FDA recently walked back one specific lab result, retracting an earlier finding that a particular lettuce sample tested positive for Cyclospora. That mix-up doesn’t undo the recall, though — it’s still very much in effect while the investigation continues, so the guidance below still stands.

What To Actually Do About It

  • If you’ve got any of the recalled lettuce in your kitchen, don’t risk it! When in doubt, toss it.
  • Taylor Farms says full refunds are available wherever you bought it, so hang onto your receipt if you’ve got one.
  • If you’ve already eaten some and started feeling off, it’s worth a call to your doctor, especially if symptoms are sticking around.
  • Got questions for Taylor Farms directly? Their customer care line is 855-455-0098, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

And hey, if you’re anything like us, this is a good excuse to double-check the produce drawer, restock with a fresh head of lettuce, and maybe treat yourself to a big, celebratory salad once you know you’re in the clear.