FDA report reveals Taco Bell received less than 2.5% of contaminated Taylor Farms lettuce
Walmart’s Marketside brand and Taylor Farms’ own label accounted for the majority of the recalled product, while major restaurant chains received smaller shares.
A new enforcement report from the US Food and Drug Administration has clarified the distribution channels for 236,192 cases of Taylor Farms lettuce recalled due to Cyclospora contamination. The filing reveals that less than 2.5% of the recalled product was supplied to Yum, the parent company of Taco Bell, contradicting the initial public focus on the fast-food chain as the primary vector for the outbreak.
The contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce, sourced from Mexico, has been linked to a widespread illness affecting over 23,000 people across 47 US states. The outbreak has resulted in two deaths and more than 500 hospitalisations. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued specific warnings against consuming the lettuce at Taco Bell locations in five states in July, the FDA report indicates that the bulk of the tainted product was distributed elsewhere.
Walmart’s Marketside brand received the largest share of the recall, accounting for 109,476 cases, or approximately 46% of the total. Taylor Farms’ own brand received 68,897 cases, representing just over 29% of the recalled volume. The remaining product was distributed to various food service entities and other restaurant chains, with Cross Valley Farms receiving 19,016 cases and Sysco receiving 11,519 cases.
Among the restaurant chains identified in the report, Subway received 8,075 cases and Jack in the Box received 5,130 cases. Markon received 7,459 cases, while Peak Fresh Produce received 720 cases. The report provides specific case numbers and full company names, a significant departure from Taylor Farms’ initial recall notice, which used abbreviations such as “CV” for Cross Valley Farms and “MKTSD” for Walmart’s Marketside brand without providing quantities.
Taylor Farms has faced scrutiny for its reluctance to provide detailed information regarding the outbreak and for reportedly attempting to delay the recall. The FDA noted that Walmart’s Marketside brand was part of the recall but did not indicate it constituted the majority of the distribution. It remains unclear where the food service companies ultimately distributed the lettuce or if it reached states outside the 27 initially reported in the recall notice.
