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Mostly yes, according to independent epidemiologists, though the answer comes with real asterisks. The cyclospora issue tied to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce has expanded to two more states, bringing the confirmed count to at least 9,481 cases across 17 states. That number is part of a broader nationwide wave that has produced 13,895 lab confirmed cases and two deaths since May. FDA officials say the food supply is safe, but the numbers suggest people are right to still be cautious about where their lettuce came from.
Is the situation actually getting better or worse
Better, by most signals that matter, even though the headline case count keeps climbing. Yale epidemiology professor Daniel Weinberger points to fewer positive cyclospora tests nationwide and fewer people showing up at doctors’ offices with diarrhea as early evidence that case numbers have likely passed their peak. The case count keeps rising mainly because older infections are still being confirmed and logged, not because new infections are accelerating. That distinction matters if you are deciding whether tonight’s salad is a real risk.
Where did the recalled lettuce actually end up
Not mostly at Taco Bell, despite that chain drawing the earliest headlines. FDA enforcement records show Yum Brands, which owns Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut, received just 5,900 of the 236,192 total recalled lettuce cases, under 2.5% of the total. Walmart’s Marketside brand received by far the largest share at roughly 46%, while Taylor Farms itself retained about 29% for its own use. Subway, Jack in the Box and food service distributors including Sysco and Markon also received portions of the recalled product, meaning the actual exposure was far broader than the fast food headlines suggested.
Why this feels harder to fully put behind us
Because Taylor Farms is dealing with a second, unrelated issue at the same time. Fresh jalapenos supplied through Coast Citrus Distributors, traced to a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, triggered a salmonella related recall that has sickened at least 345 people across 27 states and caused 36 hospitalizations. Chipotle and Qdoba both used the recalled peppers and pulled them once notified. Taylor Farms also recalled its own prepared items containing jalapenos, including salsa and guacamole sold at Walmart, Kroger, Target, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.
This is not the company’s first serious food safety issue either. A 2024 romaine lettuce E. coli case tied to Taylor Farms sickened more than 89 people and caused one death. A lawsuit filed over that incident alleges the company knew about the problem and did not notify the public in time. Two active recalls from the same supplier, layered on top of unresolved litigation from a prior one, is a real reason to still read labels carefully even as this specific issue fades.
Does the public actually believe it is safe now
Not really, at least not yet. A CBS News poll from late July found 40% of adults said they were eating less produce specifically because of the cyclospora cases, and nearly half reported little to no confidence in the FDA’s ability to handle the situation. FDA acting commissioner Kyle Diamantas has pushed back publicly, saying Americans should feel confident eating fresh produce, including leafy greens. That reassurance is landing against a summer that has produced two separate recalls from the same company, which helps explain why public confidence has not caught up to the improving numbers.
What to actually do at the grocery store right now
Check for recall notices tied to Taylor Farms specifically, since that is where both issues trace back to, and avoid any product matching a recalled lot or best by date. Beyond that, generic bagged lettuce and produce from other suppliers have not been implicated in either recall, so there is no reason to avoid produce broadly. The risk is specific and traceable, not a reason to swear off salad entirely.
SOURCE: CBS
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