Texas Iceberg Lettuce Cyclospora Lawsuit

The 2026 cyclosporiasis outbreak has grown into one of the largest in years, with more than 11,500 cases reported nationwide. Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce that was sold at Walmart, Taco Bell, and other locations in Texas, one of 27 states where the recalled product was distributed.

Need a Texas Cyclospora Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you got sick after eating recalled iceberg lettuce at a Texas store or restaurant, contact our Texas Cyclospora lawyers through our contact page immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

How Big Has the 2026 Cyclospora Outbreak Become?

This is not a small or isolated recall. According to CDC surveillance, 4,173 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis were acquired in the United States between May 1 and July 20, 2026.

On top of that, the CDC says it is aware of more than 7,400 additional cases that are not yet confirmed, pushing the national total above 11,500. Nationally, 308 people have been hospitalized, no deaths have been reported, and confirmed cases have turned up in 41 states.

The surge is running well ahead of last year, and the CDC has begun releasing weekly updates to keep pace. Because it can take up to 6 weeks to confirm a case, the real number of people affected is almost certainly higher than what has been counted so far.

What Did Taylor Farms Recall?

In July 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico announced a recall of all iceberg lettuce it sourced from central Mexico. The company told the FDA the lettuce had the potential to be contaminated with Cyclospora and described the recall as a precaution.

What makes this recall so wide is where the lettuce went. It was distributed to both restaurants and grocery stores across 27 states between June 29 and July 16, 2026, and Texas is on that distribution list.

Where Did the Recalled Lettuce Go in Texas?

For Texans, the recall reaches two very different places: the grocery aisle and the dinner plate at a restaurant. On the retail side, it covers Marketside®-brand bagged lettuce that was sold at Walmart stores across the state.

On the food-service side, the recalled iceberg lettuce and mixed lettuce-blends were shipped to restaurants under several distributor labels. That means a Texan could have eaten the recalled lettuce in a taco, a burrito, or a side salad without ever seeing a brand name or a bag.

The FDA has also warned that its investigation is ongoing and that additional restaurants, retailers, or states could be added.

What Is Cyclospora, and Why Does It Hit Weeks Later?

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness that is spread by a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis. This parasite spreads when the feces of a sick person contaminates food or water.

The CDC says symptoms usually appear about a week after a person swallows the parasite in contaminated food or water. Left untreated, symptoms can persist for a month or more, seem to fade, and then come roaring back.

The illness is easy to overlook because routine stool tests do not screen for it, and it often will not clear on rest and fluids alone. The symptoms of cyclosporiasis may include:

• Watery diarrhea, the most common sign
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Stomach cramps, bloating, and increased gas
• Nausea and lingering fatigue
• Vomiting, body aches, headache, or a low-grade fever in some people

Which Foods and Products Are Involved?

Everything in this outbreak traces back to one ingredient: iceberg lettuce that was grown in central Mexico. This product may have reached Texans through multiple channels:

• Shredded iceberg lettuce served at restaurants, including Taco Bell locations tied to the outbreak
• Marketside Iceberg Salad, 12 oz and 24 oz, sold at Walmart
• Marketside Shredded Lettuce, 8 oz and 16 oz, sold at Walmart
• Food service iceberg lettuce and lettuce or romaine blends shipped to restaurants under several distributor labels

The recalled retail bags carry Best if Used By dates from July 18 through August 3, 2026. The FDA advises anyone who bought the recalled lettuce to discard it or return it for a full refund and to clean any surfaces it touched. Taylor Farms set up a customer care line at 855-455-0098 for questions.

Has the Lettuce Tested Positive for Cyclospora?

Not as of the latest FDA update on July 19, 2026. As of July 19, 2026, the FDA said no product sample had produced a confirmed positive result for the parasite, and an early presumptive result was later ruled a false positive.

That does not close the case. The FDA has kept its traceback finding and its warning in place, and an illness can still be linked to the recalled lettuce through epidemiologic and traceback evidence even without a positive test on a specific bag.

Has Taylor Farms Faced Cyclospora Problems Before?

This is not the Taylor Farms’s first connection to the parasite. In 2013, a bagged salad mix processed at a Taylor Farms de Mexico plant was linked to a cyclospora outbreak that sickened 631 people in 25 states. The outbreak included many victims who ate contaminated lettuce at Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

Our firm weighs that history as part of broader Texas cyclosporiasis outbreak claims tied to imported produce.

Have Lawsuits Been Filed Over the Outbreak?

Yes. In mid-July 2026, the first lawsuits tied to this outbreak were filed against Taco Bell and Taylor Farms. Lawsuits have been filed in state and federal court in Ohio and in federal court in Michigan. The victims include people who were hospitalized, including a U.S. Army veteran and a married couple.

Our firm also reviews claims tied specifically to recalled Marketside lettuce from Walmart and to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell.

Legal Help for Texas Cyclospora Victims

Iceberg lettuce is a staple in Texas kitchens and on Texas menus, from weeknight salads at home to the shredded lettuce piled on tacos and burritos at restaurants across the state. When that everyday ingredient carries the risk of a parasite, the people who got sick should not be left paying the price.

How Can a Lawyer Help?

If a lab confirmed cyclospora and you can connect your illness to recalled iceberg lettuce, a Texas food poisoning lawyer can review your records and explain your options. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Need a Texas Iceberg Lettuce Cyclospora Lawsuit?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years of experience, participation in over 600 jury trials, and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.