Sysco, the largest U.S. food distributor, has stopped buying iceberg lettuce from Mexico and shifted to U.S.-grown supplies as federal officials investigate a multistate Cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled Taylor Farms produce.
CEO Kevin Hourican told Reuters on Tuesday that Sysco had stopped purchasing from Taylor Farms’ Mexican operations and from Mexico more broadly while the company worked to diversify its supply chain.
“We’re not buying iceberg lettuce from them, and we’re not buying it from Mexico,” Hourican said. “To the degree that we can further diversify our procurement, that is something we’re actively working on.”
Sysco shifts to U.S.-grown lettuce
Sysco halted sales and distribution of Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from Mexico in mid-July and initiated a voluntary recall before Taylor Farms formally notified the distributor of its recall, Hourican said.
“It’s a high quality, high integrity shop, but we’ve had to take actions,” Hourican said. “We’ve moved source of product away from them to the degree that we can. Because they’re really big, you can’t just turn it off overnight.”
Sysco has obtained enough U.S.-grown iceberg lettuce to meet current demand. Hourican said lower consumer demand during the outbreak helped ease the supply challenge, although replacing Taylor Farms’ volume remained difficult.
National case count passes 10,000
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 10,468 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired cases from May 1 through August 3, 2026. CDC listed 517 hospitalizations, two deaths and cases in 47 states. The agency also knew of more than 12,255 additional cases that were not laboratory-confirmed or required further investigation and analysis.
Those national figures cover multiple Cyclospora clusters and should not be treated as a count of illnesses tied solely to Taylor Farms lettuce. CDC said the iceberg lettuce outbreak contributed significantly to the broader increase.
The Food and Drug Administration’s most recent public outbreak advisory, dated July 24, 2026, listed 1,947 illnesses, 98 hospitalizations and no deaths in the specific lettuce-linked outbreak across nine states. The agency said its traceback investigation converged on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico that was served at Taco Bell restaurants.
Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17, 2026. The recall included Marketside products sold at Walmart and numerous foodservice products distributed from June 29 through July 16 to 27 states, including Texas.
False-positive test did not end investigation
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the FDA acknowledged on July 19, 2026, that a lettuce sample initially reported as positive for Cyclospora was a false positive. The agency said no confirmed positive product samples existed at that time, but it maintained that epidemiological and traceback evidence supported the recall.
Taylor Farms said no confirmed positive product test existed as of July 24 and that approximately 2,000 samples it collected in central Mexico since May had tested negative. The company suspended iceberg lettuce sourcing from central Mexico for the rest of the growing season and temporarily halted all production at its central Mexico facility while independent experts reviewed its food-safety systems.
Michigan reports two deaths
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 12,218 cases and two deaths in the state outbreak as of Wednesday. Michigan’s total includes a broader group of cases than the CDC’s laboratory-confirmed national count. The state also reported 193 hospitalizations as of July 30, 2026.
State officials said medical records indicated that cyclosporiasis and dehydration may have worsened significant underlying health conditions in both people who died. Michigan investigators identified lettuce or salad greens as a potential source but had not identified a specific produce type, grower or supplier.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora. It commonly causes watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue and weight loss. Untreated symptoms can last for weeks or longer, and dehydration can create serious complications for people with underlying medical conditions.
Provided by Dallas Express
