Check Your Fridge: Lettuce Recalled in NJ Due to Parasite Contamination

A brand of iceberg lettuce sold across 27 states has been recalled after federal health officials warned it could be contaminated with Cyclospora, a parasite that can trigger diarrhea and other gastrointestinal illnesses.

Taylor Farms de Mexico, headquartered in Guanajuato, Mexico, announced Friday that it is voluntarily recalling all iceberg lettuce distributed in the United States that was sourced from Central Mexico.

The recalled shredded iceberg lettuce was shipped between June 29 and July 16 to retailers in 27 states, including New Jersey, Florida, and Wisconsin.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has published a complete list of the affected products and states, along with guidance on how consumers can return or safely dispose of the recalled lettuce.

Officials advise consumers not to eat the recalled lettuce, even if it appears fresh and has no unusual odor. Anyone who purchased the affected products should either discard them immediately or return them to the store where they were bought.

The recall follows an FDA investigation that connected a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. According to federal officials, the lettuce involved in the outbreak was supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico.

Taco Bell said it stopped using lettuce from Taylor Farms as of Friday.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with the microscopic parasite Cyclospora.

Health officials have seen an increase in cases across the country, including in New Jersey, where 46 infections had been reported as of July 11.

The illness commonly causes watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, and fatigue. Symptoms typically develop between two days and two weeks after exposure and may persist for several days or even a month or longer.