Taylor Farms founder speaks out amid FDA probe into cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to lettuce

Late last week, Bruce Taylor—founder and CEO of Taylor Farms—dispatched a lobbyist to the White House for an emergency meeting to discuss the cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to his business. The lobbyist expressed "frustration with being excluded from the outbreak investigation process."

The meeting followed a report by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the brand's lettuce was under investigation for the parasite—which has so far caused "explosive diarrhea" in more than 7,000 people and nearly 150 hospitalizations. Taylor Farms, the largest salad producer in America, had issued a voluntary recall of its iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico in response.

False Positive and Ongoing Investigation

On Sunday, the FDA acknowledged that a sample test had yielded a false positive. Taylor Farms then issued a statement saying the FDA had apologized.

By Monday, the FDA clarified that its investigation still indicated the parasite was linked to Taylor Farms with "overwhelming epidemiological data." In response to the "significant confusion," Taylor Farms released another statement, promising not to source any iceberg lettuce from growers in Central Mexico for the rest of the season. The company also said it had "deployed" its own specialists to Central Mexico "to probe every possible origin of the parasitic contamination," in addition to working "closely" with federal health officials. (The FDA still reports no positive test results to date.)

Taylor's Response

As the outbreak continues, Taylor contends the company welcomes more FDA scrutiny. He also cautioned against letting the outbreak frighten consumers away from eating fresh fruits and vegetables, noting they are healthier than frozen or processed foods.

"Americans are afraid and avoiding healthy fresh food to their own detriment," Taylor told Forbes on Thursday via email, in what appears to be the first time he has responded to questions about his farm's potential role in the outbreak.

Background on Bruce Taylor and Taylor Farms

Taylor served as co-chairman of Fresh International Corp.—the produce giant his father Ted founded alongside Fresh Express—from 1981 to 1994. His father died in 1991, and a reported rift with his brother Steve over management styles and the company's future led Bruce Taylor to resign.

He founded Taylor Farms with several partners in California's Salinas Valley in 1995. His brother Steve (d. 2022) took over the family produce firm and later led its sale to publicly traded Performance Food Group in 2001 for approximately $300 million.

Taylor Farms has since grown into a $7 billion (estimated annual revenue) produce powerhouse and is one of the world's largest salad and fresh produce operations. The majority of the estimated $15 billion North American salad market is controlled by Taylor Farms, Fresh Express (acquired by Chiquita from Performance Food Group in 2005 for $855 million), and private equity-owned salad brand Organic Girl.

Clients and Products

In addition to Taco Bell and Walmart—both identified in the voluntary recall linked to the outbreak—Taylor Farms has sold:

• Salad bags to Whole Foods
• Shredded lettuce to McDonald's and Chipotle
• Iceberg lettuce to Olive Garden

The company also cuts, packs, and sells other vegetables such as brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and onions.

History of Recalls

The Salinas, California-based business is no stranger to recalls. Taylor Farms has been linked to several major outbreaks over the past two decades, including:

• Five different recalls in 2013 alone
• A 2024 recall of raw onions served at McDonald's due to E. coli contamination that sickened over 100 people and led to one death

"We strive to stop any risk identified quickly and learn from each one," Taylor noted.