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FDA finds cyclospora parasite at Mexican Taylor Farms site but closes investigation without explaining how it contaminated lettuce

From the Newshound archive · first published 3 October 2026.

FDA finds cyclospora parasite at Mexican Taylor Farms site but closes investigation without explaining how it contaminated lettuce

The US Food and Drug Administration has confirmed it detected the cyclospora parasite at the Taylor Farms facility in Guanajuato, Mexico, linked to the largest cyclospora foodborne outbreak in American history. Inspectors found the parasite in a wastewater tank and a drainage ditch used for lettuce cultivation, providing what the FDA called 'strong epidemiological data' tying the site to nearly 13,000 cases of illness across the US. Despite the findings, the agency has closed its investigation without establishing how the contamination actually occurred. The FDA's visit was its first to the facility in more than seven years, after international food safety inspections collapsed following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cyclospora causes watery diarrhoea with 'frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements' and spreads through human faeces.

MoreThe IndependentCyclospora found at Mexican farmed linked to lettuce outbreak, FDA saysAPCyclospora found at Mexican farm linked to lettuce outbreak, FDA saysReutersUS FDA closes cyclospora lettuce parasite probe, finds strong link to Taylor Farms Mexico
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