Two Major Food-Safety Alerts: Parasitic Outbreak Linked to Lettuce and Nearly 19 Million Eggs Recalled

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Consumers are being urged to check their refrigerators following two major food-safety investigations involving iceberg lettuce and shell eggs.

Federal health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that can cause prolonged intestinal illness. At the same time, nearly 19 million eggs have been voluntarily recalled due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Iceberg Lettuce

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico.

As of July 24, at least 1,947 illnesses and 98 hospitalizations had been reported across nine states. No deaths had been reported. The states reporting outbreak-related illnesses were New York, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Taylor Farms initiated a voluntary recall on July 17 covering all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The recall includes certain Marketside-brand iceberg salad and shredded lettuce products sold at select Walmart stores, as well as lettuce distributed to restaurants and food-service businesses.

Federal officials said the affected lettuce was distributed in at least 27 states. New York was not included in the confirmed distribution list released by the FDA, although officials cautioned that additional distribution channels or locations could be identified as the investigation continues.

Consumers should not eat recalled lettuce. It should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Refrigerators, containers, utensils and surfaces that may have touched the lettuce should also be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.

Cyclospora symptoms commonly include:

• Frequent watery diarrhea

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss

• Stomach cramps and bloating

• Nausea

• Increased gas

• Fatigue

Symptoms may begin approximately one week after exposure and can last for several weeks or longer without treatment. Routine stool tests may not automatically screen for Cyclospora, so anyone experiencing symptoms should tell their healthcare provider about possible exposure.

Nearly 19 Million Eggs Recalled Over Salmonella Concerns

Midwest Poultry Services has also voluntarily recalled 1,589,577 dozen eggs, equal to approximately 19.1 million individual eggs, due to possible contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis.

The recalled white shell eggs and brown cage-free eggs were produced in Texas and distributed between June 6 and July 3. They have sell-by or best-by dates ranging from July 20 through August 17, 2026.

The recalled eggs were shipped to food-service and retail customers in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. They were also available through certain Kroger, Brookshire Grocery and smaller retail locations in Arkansas, Mississippi and New Mexico.

New York was not listed among the states receiving the recalled eggs.

Affected eggs were sold under multiple brand names, including:

• Kroger

• Simple Truth

• Brookshire’s

• Cal-Maine

• Country Morning

Consumers should check the side of the carton for plant codes P-1950 or 0840962 and Julian dates between 157 and 184. Eggs matching those codes should not be eaten and should be thrown away or returned for a refund.

The wider Salmonella investigation has identified 98 illnesses across 17 states, with 26 people hospitalized. Health officials have linked at least some of the illnesses to recalled eggs.

Symptoms of Salmonella usually include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Some people may also experience nausea, vomiting or bloody diarrhea.

Young children, adults age 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of developing a serious infection.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Medical attention should be sought for symptoms including:

• Diarrhea lasting more than two days

• Bloody diarrhea

• A fever higher than 102 degrees

• Persistent vomiting

• Difficulty keeping liquids down

• Signs of dehydration, including dizziness, dry mouth or reduced urination

Consumers are encouraged to review egg cartons and packaged lettuce carefully, follow federal recall updates and clean any surfaces that may have contacted recalled products.

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