Taylor Farms outbreaks highlight U.S. reliance on Mexican produce

Two major foodborne illness outbreaks linked to Taylor Farms have raised significant concerns regarding U.S. food safety oversight of Mexican imports. A large cyclosporiasis outbreak, traced to iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico, has resulted in more than 6,300 illnesses, 740 hospitalizations, and two deaths across 47 U.S. states. Additionally, the company recalled products containing jalapeños following a salmonella outbreak linked to peppers imported from Mexico.

Experts point to a growing vulnerability in the North American food system, noting that Mexico now accounts for over 20% of all U.S. food imports. Concerns have been raised regarding the capacity of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage these imports, as agency employment fell by 22% in 2026 and foreign food-facility inspections decreased by nearly 13% in fiscal 2025. One Mexican lettuce farm linked to the cyclosporiasis outbreak reportedly had not been inspected by American regulators since 2019.

The CDC reported that while the cyclosporiasis outbreak may be slowing in some areas, the total number of cases is expected to rise as more infections are reported. The median age of those affected by the cyclosporiasis outbreak was 45.