Texas Taco Bell Cyclospora Lawsuit

Shredded iceberg lettuce that was served at Taco Bell has been linked to a Cyclospora outbreak in 5 states, with at least 1,644 people sick and 94 hospitalized as of July 16, 2026. The outbreak is part of a national cyclosporiasis surge that has reached roughly 7,000 people across 34 states.

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 shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell, contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

How Did Health Officials Trace This Outbreak to Taco Bell?

In July 2026, the FDA and CDC opened an investigation into a cluster of Cyclospora illnesses among people who had eaten at Taco Bell. Everyone in the outbreak had one thing in common: a recent meal at Taco Bell.

Michigan health officials interviewed 190 sick customers and found that 90% had eaten iceberg lettuce at Taco Bll, according to the FDA. From there, the FDA’s trace-back investigation pointed to a single supplier of iceberg lettuce that was grown in Mexico and sold at Taco Bell.

So far, the confirmed outbreak has spread across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. However, the FDA has cautioned that the lettuce may have been distributed further, and that additional restaurants, retailers, or states could be added as the investigation continues.

What Is Cyclospora, and Why Is It So Easy to Miss?

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness that is spread by a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis. Symptoms can appear anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks or more after swallowing the parasite in contaminated food or water.

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. Left untreated, the CDC says symptoms can drag on for a month or more. Sympptoms can fade and then come roaring back.

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis may include:

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

Which Food Is Affected?

Health officials have narrowed this outbreak to one item on the menu:

• Shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations

Where Was the Lettuce Served?

The FDA has confirmed that the lettuce reached Taco Bell locations in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana, but not every Taco Bell in those states received it. Taco Bell has committed to stop using lettuce from the supplier identified in the traceback and is removing the product.

For the latest updates, Texans can follow the FDA outbreak advisory, which is updated as new states or distributors are identified.

Who Supplied the Lettuce?

Federal investigators have not named the supplier on the record. However, news media have reported that the supplier is a farm in Mexico that imports produce to the U.S. for Taylor Farms, a California-based produce company.

Taylor Farms has pushed back publicly, saying that none of its branded salads or kits are associated with the outbreak and that its branded salad kits do not contain iceberg lettuce.

In response to the outbreak, Taylor Farms de Mexico has voluntarily stopped selling all iceberg lettuce that is from central Mexico. The company said that the evidence points to a single independent farm as the likely source.

How Many People Were Affected?

As of July 16, 2026, the FDA reported that 1,644 people had been sickened in the Taco Bell outbreak, with 94 hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The illness onset dates range from May 13 to July 13.

Nationwide, surveillance data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported close to 7,000 cyclosporiasis cases across 34 states as of July 13. At least 141 people have been hospitalized due to a severe illness.

Has Taylor Farms Been Connected to Cyclospora Before?

This is not the first time Taylor Farms has been linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak. In 2013, a bagged salad mix that was processed at a Taylor Farms de Mexico plant was linked to a cyclospora outbreak that sickened 631 people in 25 states, many of them diners at Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

That history is part of why our firm reviews Texas cyclosporiasis outbreak claims tied to imported produce. When a supplier is connected to the same parasite more than once, it raises hard questions about how the produce was grown and handled.

Has Anyone Filed a Lawsuit Yet?

Yes. On July 17, 2026, the first lawsuit involving this outbreak was filed in Mahoning County, Ohio, against Taco Bell and Taylor Farms. The lawsuit was filed by a 27-year U.S. Army veteran who was hospitalized after eating at the chain.

Legal Help for Cyclospora Victims in Texas

Cyclospora can steal weeks from a person’s life. There can be expensive medical bills, missed work, and symptoms that persist much longer than ordinary stomach bug. A Texan who got sick after eating implicated lettuce should not have to shoulder those costs alone.

If a lab confirmed cyclospora and you can tie your illness to shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell, a Texas food poisoning lawyer can help you understand your options and pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Need a Texas Taco Bell 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.