Federal investigators have linked shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by California-based Taylor Farms to Taco Bell restaurants as a potential source of a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak that has reached Illinois, according to CNN and Reuters citing sources familiar with the investigation.

The CDC confirmed 1,645 cases of the parasitic intestinal illness in 34 states as of Tuesday, July 14, with more than 5,100 additional cases under investigation. Illinois had reported at least 141 confirmed cases as of approximately Thursday, July 10, according to CDC data reported by Newsweek. The actual count is likely higher given the national trajectory.

Taco Bell said Wednesday, July 15, that it had voluntarily removed some ingredients at select locations as a precautionary measure. Neither Taylor Farms nor Taco Bell has confirmed a link to the outbreak. The FDA had not issued a formal consumer advisory as of Thursday, July 16, but Bloomberg reported the agency plans to warn consumers to avoid shredded lettuce at Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana.

What this means for Hinsdale families

Cyclosporiasis does not spread person to person. It is contracted by eating food contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, bloating, fatigue and low-grade fever. They can appear anywhere from two days to two weeks after exposure and can persist for weeks without treatment.

"We're seeing an unusually high number of cyclosporiasis cases this summer," Gwen Biggerstaff, deputy director of the CDC's Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, said at a Tuesday, July 14, briefing. Federal officials expect the outbreak to continue through August.

Michigan leads the nation with 4,312 confirmed cases as of Thursday, July 16. The state typically records 40 to 50 cases per year. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan's chief medical executive, said Sunday, July 13, that lettuce is "a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation."

How to protect yourself

Health officials recommend buying whole heads of lettuce rather than prewashed, bagged lettuce or premixed salad kits. Discard the outer two to three layers of leaves. Wash inner leaves thoroughly under clean running water. Heating produce to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit kills the parasite.

Cyclosporiasis may not show up on standard stool tests. Biggerstaff urged people experiencing symptoms to ask their doctor specifically for a Cyclospora test.

Residents who suspect infection should contact the DuPage County Health Department at 630-682-7400 or the Illinois Department of Public Health, which the CDC identified as the primary source for Illinois-specific case data. No DuPage County advisory specific to cyclosporiasis had been issued as of Thursday, July 16.

Surveillance gaps complicate tracking

In July 2025, the CDC scaled back its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, known as FoodNet, reducing required monitoring from eight pathogens to two. Cyclospora was among the six dropped. The program had been in place for three decades.

Confirmed cases in 2026 are more than six times higher than at the same point last year, according to CDC data cited by CNN. Nationally, 141 people had been hospitalized as of Monday, July 13. No deaths have been reported.

Hinsdale public safety week ahead

  • Tuesday, July 21, 7 p.m. — Hinsdale Village Board meeting, Memorial Building, 19 E. Chicago Ave. Agenda at villageofhinsdale.org.
  • Wednesday, July 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — American Red Cross blood drive, American Legion Post 1941, 900 S. La Grange Road, La Grange.
  • Tuesday, July 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Red Cross blood drive, Westmont Park District, 75 E. Richmond St.
  • Friday, July 31, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Red Cross blood drive, First Congregational Church, 1106 Chestnut St., Western Springs.