What to know about Taylor Farms amid the cyclospora outbreak

Taylor Farms, a large produce supplier, is facing scrutiny following a significant cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to its iceberg lettuce. Over 5,000 cases have been reported, far exceeding the typical annual range of 200 to 1,000 cases. The outbreak is unusual in scale and severity. Taylor Farms, founded in 1995 and based in Salinas Valley, California, manages facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe, growing a quarter of its own produce and partnering with family-owned farms.

The company employs 25,000 people and generates $6 billion in annual revenue. Despite its size, Taylor Farms was not immediately singled out as the source of the outbreak; instead, a single independent farm in central Mexico was identified. The outbreak has led consumers to avoid leafy greens and other fresh produce, while the FDA continues to investigate the source.

Taylor Farms has a history of food safety issues, including E. coli contamination in 2024 and Salmonella concerns in 2020 and 2013. The company's recent voluntary recall, following a false positive lab result, has raised questions about the FDA's protocols for announcing such findings.