GUANAJUATO — The Food and Drug Administration closed its investigation into the cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms after inspectors detected the parasite at a Mexican facility. The agency stated that environmental samples provide “strong epidemiological data” linking the outbreak to the site.

FDA inspectors found cyclospora in a wastewater tank and a drainage ditch used for lettuce cultivation at the farm in Guanajuato, Mexico. The visit occurred more than six weeks prior to the announcement and marked the agency's first inspection at the site in more than seven years.

U.S. officials declared the outbreak had ended last month. The incident involved nearly 13,000 cases of diarrhea and other illnesses across the U.S. according to the Food and Drug Administration statement.

The FDA stated it is unclear how the parasite entered lettuce at Taylor Farms' facility. Regulators from Mexico's food safety authority announced in August that their investigation did not detect cyclospora in the lettuce or water at the facility. Taylor Farms attributed the contamination to an independent grower “who is no longer part of our supplier program.” The company also stated, “Our facility remains closed in central Mexico as we work with our research team to implement enhanced safety protocols from the field to the facility.”

The FDA retracted a faulty test result that had incorrectly identified cyclospora in a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms collected at the border. Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the CDC.

Cyclospora is spread through human feces. Cyclosporiasis is less common than foodborne illnesses caused by salmonella and E. coli.

Timeline

In August 2024, regulators from Mexico's food safety authority announced that their investigation did not detect cyclospora in the lettuce or water at the facility. On June 24, 2026, the Food and Drug Administration issued a correction regarding a notice in the Federal Register about the Expedited Investigational New Drug Pilot Program.

The FDA scheduled a meeting with Mexican public health and agricultural authorities on September 8, 2026, to discuss ways to strengthen prevention efforts as part of a U.S.-Mexico food safety partnership. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the outbreak over on September 11, 2026, with 12,883 confirmed illnesses, 570 hospitalizations, and two deaths across 21 states.

What's New

Additional reporting indicates the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded its investigation into the Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico, which sickened 12,883 people in 21 states, with 570 hospitalizations and two deaths. The FDA found Cyclospora in a wastewater tank at the Taylor Farms de Mexico processing facility and in a drainage ditch at an iceberg lettuce grower.

Mexican food safety authorities did not detect Cyclospora in lettuce or water samples at Taylor Farms de Mexico during their August 2026 investigation, contradicting FDA findings. Historical records show Taylor Farms de Mexico was previously linked to a 2013 Cyclospora outbreak involving salad mix distributed to Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants.

In 2013, Taylor Farms de Mexico collected 793 environmental and product samples during an internal investigation, none of which tested positive for Cyclospora. An FDA Environmental Assessment Report from that year detailed how the facility was washing salad mix in recycled water, potentially leading to cross-contamination risks.

Why It Matters

The 2026 outbreak led to the recall of 3.1 million pounds of iceberg lettuce, the largest Cyclospora-related recall in U.S. history. This volume exceeded the 2025 parsley recall of 31,000 pounds. The scale of the illness and the size of the recall highlight the impact on the food supply chain and public health systems across 21 states.

The discrepancy between the FDA's findings and the Mexican authorities' results points to differences in detection methods and international regulatory alignment. The FDA's decision to close the investigation despite the conflicting international report establishes a precedent for relying on domestic environmental sampling in cross-border food safety disputes.