What You Should Know About the Taco Bell Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Taylor Farms Lettuce

If you or a family member developed diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, or other gastrointestinal illness after eating at Taco Bell this summer, you may be one of nearly 2,000 people swept up in a multistate Cyclospora outbreak now under investigation by the FDA and CDC. Health officials have traced the outbreak to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico. At the law firm of McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, we are actively investigating potential claims on behalf of individuals sickened in this outbreak.

What Is Happening With the Cyclospora Outbreak?

According to the FDA, the outbreak is linked to shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico to Taco Bell locations in multiple states. On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico announced it was voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market and initiated a recall, which includes Marketside-brand “Iceberg Salad” and “Shredded Lettuce” products sold at Walmart, as well as products distributed to food service customers nationwide.

As of the FDA’s July 24, 2026 update, the outbreak includes:

• 1,947 people infected with Cyclospora who reported eating at Taco Bell
• 98 hospitalizations, with no deaths reported
• Illness onset dates ranging from June 22, 2026 to July 20, 2026
• Confirmed cases across nine states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
• Recalled product distributed even more broadly to food service customers and Walmart stores in nearly 30 states

FDA officials have said they expect the confirmed case count to keep rising, in part because it can take up to six weeks for CDC and state health departments to determine whether a sick person is part of this outbreak. Taco Bell has confirmed it is no longer using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico.

What Is Cyclospora, and Why Does It Matter?

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis, typically spread through contaminated food or water. Most people infected develop watery diarrhea with frequent bowel movements, along with loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache, and fever may also occur, and some infected people have no symptoms at all.

Left untreated, cyclosporiasis can lead to dehydration and more serious complications requiring higher levels of medical care. Symptoms can last from a few days to a month or longer, and in some cases they appear to resolve before relapsing one or more times. People who are immunocompromised may experience more severe and prolonged illness.

What to Do If You Got Sick With Cyclospora

First, seek medical attention. Cyclospora requires specific stool testing that many providers don’t order by default, so it’s important to tell your doctor that you ate at Taco Bell and ask to be tested specifically for Cyclospora, especially if you have had diarrhea lasting more than a few days.

Second, preserve your records. Keep receipts, bank or credit card statements, and any rewards app history showing when and where you ate. Keep all medical records, test results, bills, and documentation of missed work or other losses.

Third, write down what happened. Note the date and location of the Taco Bell visit, what you ate, when symptoms began, and who else may have gotten sick from the same meal.

Fourth, speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Legal deadlines may apply, and evidence connecting your illness to this outbreak can become harder to gather over time.

Do You Have a Claim Linked to the Cyclospora Outbreak?

McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips is investigating potential food safety and product liability claims on behalf of people sickened after eating iceberg or shredded lettuce at Taco Bell locations linked to this outbreak. You may have grounds to pursue a claim if you ate at an affected Taco Bell location between late June and mid-July 2026, developed gastrointestinal symptoms consistent with cyclosporiasis, and were diagnosed with or treated for a Cyclospora infection, particularly if you required hospitalization or ongoing medical care.

Even if you have not yet been formally diagnosed, you may still have a claim worth investigating if your symptoms and exposure history are consistent with this outbreak.

How McGowan Hood Felder & Phillips Can Help

McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips has spent more than 25 years standing up for families against corporations that put profits ahead of safety. When contaminated food sickens consumers, we do not back down.

Our attorneys have a proven record in complex product liability and mass tort litigation, including cases involving foodborne illness outbreaks and defective or contaminated consumer products. James L. Ward, Jr., who leads our mass tort and class action practice, has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for Mass Tort Litigation and Class Actions and has been named Charleston “Lawyer of the Year” in that practice area, with extensive experience in complex multidistrict litigation nationwide.

We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have offices in Rock Hill, Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Greenville, and we represent clients nationwide.

Reach Out for a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one got sick after eating at Taco Bell this summer, McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips wants to hear from you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation with no obligation. You will owe nothing unless we recover on your behalf.