After his company received a lawsuit for a mass-action over an outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasites, the CEO of the California-based produce giant speaks out.
According to the FDA, the multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis is under investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration. It has “been linked to iceberg salad sourced from Central Mexico and recalled” by Taylor Farms de Mexico.
Bruce Taylor, the chief executive officer of the Salinas, California-based firm, expressed his displeasure to legislators about being “excluded from the outbreak investigations process” after having complained to them about their frustration.
Taylor stated that “Americans avoid healthy, fresh foods to their detriment.”
Food and Drug Administration announced on July 17 that the outbreak was a nationwide one, affecting thousands of people who contracted cyclospora from lettuce at Taco bell.
The report stated that a traceback “identified convergence” on one supplier Taylor Farms de Mexico who provided the shredded iceberg salad used at Taco Bell restaurants where people became ill before eating it.
The FDA reported that a sample of lettuce from the giant produce company was falsely positive.
The FDA posted a statement on its site that clarifies, “This false-positive laboratory sample DOES NOT CHANGE THE BASIS OF FDA’s ONGOING EPISTEMIC INVESTIGATION OR THE OVERWHELMING EPISTEMIC DATA SUPPORTING TAYLOR FARMS’ CURRENT VOLUNTARY RECALCULATION.”
The FDA’s investigation into the traceback of iceberg salad from Taylor Farms to growers in Mexico continues. “We encourage consumers to continue avoiding all the products that are listed on Taylor Farms voluntary recall.”
Taco Bell has removed the affected Taylor Farms products from all of its restaurants. Taylor Farms has also issued a voluntary list of all the products that are affected.
Taylor Farms issued a Friday press release that stated: “When concerns were raised regarding the origin of the Cyclospora outbreak we removed any product potentially involved from the market and, out of an excess of caution, we issued an additional recall for all icebergs lettuces sourced in the area.”
We have also suspended all production and sourcing of iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico.
It also said that it had commissioned an independent expert to perform a “top-to bottom review of our food safety protocols and processes in central Mexico”; and as of 18 July, they have “temporarily halted production of all of its products, including iceberg lettuce.”
The update states that “we continue to work closely with customers, health authorities and our independent farm partners in order to resolve this issue.”
The FDA confirmed that there were no positive samples for Cyclospora product tests as of July 24th, 2026.
Two people sued Taylor Farms on July 23 alleging that they had been sold fast food products which were then linked to an outbreak. The two also claimed that they were and other people served unfit food.
Food that contains or bears a toxic or deleterious material, that has been prepared, packaged, or stored in unsanitary conditions that may have contaminated it, falls under the definition of adulteration under 21 U.S.C. The suit stated that SS 342 cannot be lawfully entered into commerce.
The defendants sold the lettuce as a normal, healthy food to consumers.

The final stage of the Tour de France was cut short to allow security staff to be redeployed to battle the raging fires.
More than 250.000 people have been displaced by the latest fires that raged across southern Europe, with 70,000 of them being evacuated from central Spain. The municipality of Manises reported the death of a man on Facebook, marking the first fatality in these blazes.
The A400M, a giant transporter, swooped low in France to drop a plume of retardant ochre over the drought-hit forests in southwest France as firefighters on the ground battled flames authorities were worried could spread towards the city of Bordeaux.
The Paris Police Department and race organizers announced on Sunday that the 21st stage and final of the 3-week Tour de France, France’s biggest sporting event each year, would be shortened. This reflects the enormous strain two major fires are creating in southwest France for emergency services.
The race will be held in Paris on Sunday, instead of starting at Thoiry west of Paris. This is a shorter circuit than the original 133 km (82.5 miles) planned. According to a statement about the “exceptional actions” made by this situation, a part of the security team will “reinforce response efforts in areas affected by wildfires.”
Shifting winds raise concerns for Bordeaux
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned that the wind would shift from west to east on Saturday, which could push flames towards Bordeaux. Fire crews were digging trenches to block fires. They also used retardants.
The fire, he said, was located about 20 miles (30 kilometers) to the west of Bordeaux and had lost some intensity over night. Prefect of Gironde, which includes Bordeaux, said that the fire grew to “a storm” by Friday morning after it started earlier in the week. He warned that the blaze “remains hazardous” despite the progress made by firefighters.
To protect the public from choking fumes, the government sent 1.5 million masks in order to mobilize soldiers and join fire departments.
The authorities ordered the evacuation of people living between the fire’s location and Bordeaux, as well as from the western suburbs of Bordeaux and nearby towns and villages.
Sebastien lecornu, the Prime Minister of France, described the fires in Gironde as being unprecedented. He said that the fire became so powerful on Friday it began to generate its own wind. Lecornu announced that firefighting teams would be reinforced by hundreds of additional soldiers, and respiratory masks filtering out potentially toxic smoke particles will be rushed to the exposed.
The city of Bordeaux has taken in thousands evacuees and provided them with food and shelter at an exhibition centre. Its mayor stated that the facility could accommodate up to 10,000 people, if necessary. Airport officials said that the airport remained open, but bus and tram service had been suspended.
Sophie Brocas, prefect of Gironde, said that special alerts were sent to mobile phones to instruct people to evacuate. Sophie Brocas, Gironde prefect said that the fire destroyed approximately 140 houses in the area.
Authorities were caught off-guard by the magnitude of wildfires
A400M, a French A400M aircraft specially modified for firefighting was an important new weapon in the fight. Nunez reported that it was working with at least 18 water and fire retardant dropping aircraft and helicopters in the Gironde area, rotating in smoke-filled skies.
Fire crews and officials were caught off-guard by the virulence and severity of wildfires in France and Spain, which was fueled both by the high temperatures of summer and the effects of global warming.
The fires in Spain spread so quickly and violently, that firefighters could not fight them head-on. Some people fled France by boat as flames consumed tourist towns along the Atlantic Coast.
Javier Organista said, “We have never seen anything as bad.” The fire that charred the chestnut trees in El Tiemblo west of Madrid was a first for him. When we saw flames engulfing our village, surrounding us and leaving us virtually no escape, all of the neighbors came together to stop it’s advance.
He said, “It is just so sad.”
Fires are fueled by climate change
Spain sent 2,600 firefighters and police to fight two fires in the west of Madrid. They were backed up by helicopters and 19 aircraft that dropped water.
France sent 1,400 firefighters for the Gironde wildfire and another 100 to another fire further south, in the Landes area. Authorities reported that dozens of firefighters were injured amid scenes of panic, with people fleeing in cars and the police going door-to-door to warn them to evacuate.
The heatwaves that have swept Europe this year with temperatures breaking records, and spreading across Europe, has turned the scrublands and forests into fire-prone areas.
The Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez announced Saturday that 130,000 hectares had been burned in Spain this year, compared to an average annual burn of 100,000 hectares for the last decade.
The fire chief said that Saturday’s more favorable conditions provided “a window” of opportunity for firefighters to put the blazes out. Madrid’s Regional Government said that the intensity of fires dropped as temperatures and winds decreased.
Manises is part of Valencia’s wildfire affected region.
The other European nations are also helping. Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and the Netherlands have already sent or will soon send water-dumping helicopters and planes to help fight the fires in Spain and France.
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Leicester contributed from Paris. The Associated Press contributed by Barry Hatton, in Lisbon, Portugal, Manu Fernandez, in El Tiemblo (Spain), and Joseph Wilson, in Barcelona.

MADISON (AP) – In Wisconsin’s progressive capitol city, Madison, where residents are proud of their long history of political activism, a recent police shooting has disrupted many of the most important and popular summer events, and brought to the forefront the persistent and deep racial divides.
Corey Ruiz was killed on Wednesday by a Madison Police officer after a short scuffle near a 52-year old food co-op located in the most liberal part of Madison.
Madison Police have killed someone three times since 2012. This shooting has led to renewed calls for reforms in the police force and forced a city with a 70% black population to face the racial injustice issues raised by the Black community.
Madison’s summertime signature events have been cancelled or disrupted due to protestor pressure and sympathy.
Clyde Mayberry, a Black activist who posted to Facebook Friday in the midst of a series cancellations: “This is not business as usual.” Your decisions helped to ensure that the city acknowledges the pain, loss and call for accountability.
After the shootings, protesters went to the streets and disrupted a Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra concert that is held every summer at the Capitol. The event attracts around 30,000 people. Many of the protesters were Black and stood in front of white concert goers who had rented tables for $1,800 a night near the stage.
The concert organizers cancelled the event.
The city postponed the opening of the new market on Thursday due to the threat of protests. This was just a few streets away from the location of the shooting. In response to potential protests, a popular festival in the neighborhood near the shooting, called AtwoodFest and scheduled to start on Saturday, has also been canceled.
The festival organizers wrote: “Our community, and the Marquette residents who live nearby witnessed yet another horrifying officer-involved incident just blocks away from our festival grounds. We are left in deep grief and anger that is justified.” This year’s AtwoodFest is cancelled in recognition of the many incidents that have occurred across our nation and community.
On Saturday, in solidarity with the protesters, the downtown farmers’ market, which attracts 20,000 visitors each week to the Capitol Building, closed nearly four hours early than normal.
Market organizers shared on social media that they mourned with their community. We agree that business can’t continue as normal.
Around 10 am, a few protesters appeared at the Capitol while vendors were tearing down their booths.
Reba Bergmann said, “This is not just a Saturday,” as she sat next to Lilly Nimmer and held a sign reading “Justice for Corey.”
Nimmer stated, “Life is not normal.” We should be madder. “We should be more mad.”
Charles Alt (30) supported the closure of early.
Alt said, while shopping in the market, “It is important to focus on what’s really tragic, namely that somebody was killed.” Alt, who was shopping at the market, said, “It’s sad that you missed some of your market time but it’s not important.”
Rodney Hathaway was surprised by the early closing of the Madison market. He was on a visit to Madison from Milwaukee.
He said, “It is ridiculous.” This is the livelihood of people. Just unfortunate. “We have a very short summer for them to market their goods.”
The investigation into the shooting continues. Ben Crump is a civil rights lawyer who represents Ruiz’s family. He said at a conference held in the Capitol on Friday that the officer responsible for the shooting should be charged criminally.
Madison’s white police chief, John Patterson, tried to ease tensions by allowing protesters, along with the city mayor, to overwhelm a press conference he and the mayor were holding inside the department headquarters in downtown Madison on Thursday.
Patterson answered questions from protesters who were angry. One protester held up a sign that read “corrupt police deserve to die, too.” Patterson calmly replied, “I’m glad you are here.”

Hernando Salado, 83, was shocked when he discovered a swelling of his abdomen in May 2025. He was 83 years old and had been active all his life. Recently, he had hip pain but thought that it was due to his age. It was a sudden swelling that had no obvious cause.
His doctor performed an endoscopic ultrasonography, which was unable to determine the source of his swelling and pain. A gastroenterologist ordered him to undergo an MRI. He received the devastating news two days later: stage III pancreatic carcinoma.
Salcedo said to CBS News that it was “very hard” for him to receive this diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society, most Stage III pancreatic patients live just a few months after diagnosis. The five-year survival rates are only 15%. Salcedo was not a good candidate for surgery, which can remove the cancer. Only aggressive chemotherapy was available to extend his life and not cure the cancer.
In July 2025 he began chemo at the Miami Cancer Institute, but soon suffered severe side effects. He lost weight and couldn’t even eat. Son Mauricio says his father was a person who used to walk two or three miles in the morning. Now he can barely leave home.
“I have never seen my father in bed that long, where he is unable to get out of it,” Mauricio stated.
Salcedo felt pain, and sometimes worse, than before his diagnosis. He was previously uncomfortable. He was barely functioning.
The easiest decision
Miami Cancer Institute expert panel heard Salcedo’s case while he was undergoing chemotherapy. The panels are a great way to discuss innovative treatment options, such as clinical trials. Dr. Ripal Ghandi, the oncologist and radiologist who treated Salcedo, says that.
Salcedo’s case was approved for Salcedo to participate in a trial testing the new RenovoRX chemotherapy delivery system. In most cases, chemotherapy is given intravenously and spreads throughout the body. Gandhi explained that “pancreatic carcinoma has dense tissue and not much blood supply, so a large amount of chemo does not get to” the tumor using this method.
RenovoRX’s RenovoCath System, first approved by FDA in 2014 to be used, is designed to provide chemotherapy with greater precision. In the artery closest to the tumour, a catheter with two inflatable balloons is inserted. The catheter delivers chemotherapy to the tumour as closely as possible, and the balloons block its blood supply.
Prior research revealed that the system was less likely to cause side effects. Gandhi stated that the clinical trial data, presented in 2023 at the World Congress of GI Cancer Patients showed 65% fewer side effects among patients who were treated using the catheter method compared to those receiving traditional chemotherapy. Gandhi stated that participants who were treated with chemotherapy through a catheter saw an increase of six months in their survival.
Gandhi explained that “because you are isolating chemotherapy, very little of it is going to the rest of the body.” The drug will be localized at the location of cancer, and very little of it is going to your other organs.
Salcedo didn’t hesitate when the trial was proposed to him. Mauricio described it as “the easiest” decision of his father’s cancer journey.
This treatment changed my life
Participants in the trial receive chemotherapy as usual for two months. This is followed by a second chemotherapy treatment and radiation. Salcedo had not progressed after these cycles. This meant that he could finally use the catheter-based delivery system. Salcedo, along with other patients in the trial, were randomly assigned to receive standard chemotherapy or the new method.
Gandhi stated that Salcedo received RenovoCath chemotherapy. Gandhi said that he received treatment every two weeks for four months.
Salcedo described the difference between his traditional chemotherapy and this new treatment as being like night-and-day. Salcedo said that he “felt great the following day” after each treatment. “I didn’t feel nausea. “I didn’t feel any pain.” “I didn’t even feel anything. “This treatment changed my life.”
Salcedo was not the only patient who felt better after the trial. Gandhi said that one of his patients survived for four years following her initial diagnosis. This is “really unprecedented in this disease.”
Gandhi stated that “generally, we cannot cure Stage III pancreatic carcinoma.” Salcedo’s quality of life is important to us, but we also want to extend his life. “I could confidently say that we maintained his quality of living.”
A spokesperson for RenovoRX confirmed that the device had been approved by FDA. The spokesperson stated that more research will be conducted and final data from the RenovoCath trial for Stage III Pancreatic Cancer should be available in 2027.
Like you’ve won the lottery
Salcedo is already one year past his initial diagnosis. Gandhi stated that the cancer had been stable for about a month. The cancer has not spread, and Gandhi’s doctors as well as Salcedo are very happy.
Salcedo’s extra time and improved quality of living have allowed him to take part in important family events, such as traveling to Colombia for the wedding of his nephew. Salcedo said he danced all night and felt “perfect.”
Mauricio stated that neither he or his father are under illusions. Salcedo, at 83 years of age, has a bad prognosis for Stage III pancreatic carcinoma. Mauricio says that these extra months are a blessing. Salcedo is back to his daily walks, and he plans even more traveling.
Mauricio stated, “We do not know for how long but we are aware that he is gaining weight and his energy level has returned. His mind also seems to be in order, as he thinks about his future.” What else would you ask for an 83 year old man other than to be happy? It’s like winning the lottery!”

What is for dinner tonight? What’s for dinner?
Jack uses an app to find the best deals in her local grocery store before buying groceries. She grabs the circular when she gets to the store and looks for any coupons that she may have overlooked. She will scratch off items from her list if the prices on the shelves seem too high.
The apples I buy are no longer available here. “I’ll get them at Market Basket where they are cheaper,” Jack said, as she pushed a shopping cart through a Stop & Shop in Lexington.
She and other Americans are adopting new shopping habits, such as comparison-shopping and reducing their consumption of favorite foods. This is due to the largest increase in food prices seen in half a century. According to the government, buying food for home consumption has become 33% more costly in U.S. Cities since January 2019. Prices rose by 6.4% in the seven and a half years prior to that.
This historic rise was due to a number of factors. Coronavirus caused supply chain disruptions and increased labor and transport costs. Production was impacted by hurricanes, droughts and illnesses like bird flu. The tariffs on imported products such as coffee, chocolate and tomatoes increased the price. The ongoing Russian war in Ukraine has disrupted the supply of oil and fertiliser.
The cost to fill their fridges, pantries, and freezers has been a source of frustration and anger for Americans. This is why affordability was a major issue during the midterm election in November.
Some measures show that Americans can handle higher prices better, even if it is only slightly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average weekly income of full-time workers has increased a little faster than grocery prices since 2019.
Consumers have long-term memories, especially when it comes time to shop for food. They know that their money isn’t getting as much for the same amount of dollars as in years past, according to Jared Bernstein.
Bernstein stated that wages grew faster than food prices prior to the pandemic. Although a worker’s pay still exceeds grocery receipts, the consumer may be angry and stressed because of other rising costs like electricity and housing.
Bernstein said that people have an excellent sense of price, perhaps even more than they do for gas. Bernstein was the former chair of Joe Biden’s Council of Economic Advisers. You need food to survive.
A median wage does not reflect the ability of families to absorb additional cost increases. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans will spend an average of 12,9% of their incomes before taxes on dining out or at home by 2024. However, the percentage is 33% among the 1/5th of U.S. families with the lowest wages.
The prices can also vary significantly by region. Consumer price index data showed that food at home cost 2% in St. Louis in June, compared with a year ago; it cost 6% in San Francisco.
Residents of four cities where the food inflation rate is higher than the national average have shared their experiences in interviews about how the steadily increasing prices affect the way that they shop. The residents described switching brands, looking for bargains and being grateful to food banks. Others are less likely to buy non-essentials, such as takeout coffee. Some people are eating less overall or buying less meat.
Sally Lyons Wyatt is a vice-president at Circana, an international market research firm. She said, “It’s like a family strategy where the financial pressure has not gone away. So consumers have developed their own strategy on how to deal with it.”
For many Americans, beef is the epitome of out-of control grocery prices. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of one pound of beef ground in June was $6.82. This is 79% higher than it was at the start of 2019. Factors contributing to the price increase include the shrinking U.S. herd of cattle, the drought in the West and rising feed and fuel costs.
According to NielsenIQ, the demand for ground beef has decreased as a consequence. Ada Torres is 60 years old and one of those who no longer buys it. With five pounds of meat costing nearly $20, the family has stopped buying ground beef.
Torres shares her home in Cleveland, Texas with three of her grandchildren and a daughter, 36. The family is primarily supported by her daughter who runs a mobile auto-washing business. Torres is responsible for the cooking and grocery shopping.
Prices are sky high. 100 dollars worth of food is nothing these days. You might be able to bring seven items home for your family if you find a great deal,” said the woman.
Torres’s attempt to reduce costs includes switching Goya cans of beans and Hunt tomato sauce with products in Walmart’s Great Value line. She said that cold cuts and chicken are the main sources of protein for her family.
Torres is concerned that her three grandchildren, aged 12, 15 and 16, will suffer from a lack of deli meat. She said that they miss the beef dishes which were staples at their dinner table in years past, such as lasagna, beef fajitas, and steaks with plantain chip.
Torres daughter’s employment in Texas drops off during the wet season, so the family can only afford to eat one meal per day. The family eats simple meals like cereal and eggs for breakfast and dinner.
Apral Jack used to shop at Whole Foods for his groceries until very recently. Her three adult daughters have left her with fewer mouths that she has to feed.
Jack smiled and said, “I no longer have to buy for them.” She noted that the days when she would load up her carts at Costco or BJ’s Wholesale Club were over.
She spends less than before. Her only purchase of steak is if it’s on sale. The app she uses to plan her weekly menu displays digital coupons and special offers. Her shopping list is based on what’s currently on sale.
I will usually choose my meals according to that. There was a 3-day chicken sale. Jack replied, “I’ll cook chicken with rice and vegetables.”
She has a list with fewer canned foods. She has removed Nilla wafers and Nabisco Ginger Snaps from her list because they are too expensive. Jack doesn’t like the taste of store brand replacements. She won’t purchase them.
Matt Hamory who heads the global grocery practice for AlixPartners said that consumers have a certain amount of money they are comfortable with spending each week on food. If prices are below their comfort level, they will either go to an expensive shop or buy a special treat. If prices are unreasonable, or the economy is uncertain they will look for alternatives that are cheaper or reduce their spending.
Hamory stated that he would split his trips between cheaper stores and stop at Stop & Shop if they were to increase their prices. Eventually, he may lose Stop & Shop altogether.
San Francisco is known as the city of foodies. Jack Chang, 33, is obsessed with food for a variety of reasons. Jack Chang, a self-employed hairdresser with three children under the age of five and an unemployed partner is also concerned about food. Sometimes, the money that he earns by cutting hair for five to six days per week is not enough.
Chang explained: “I have to support five mouths, and sometimes even my mother, so it is a big financial burden on me.”
The family does not go out to eat boba teas and artisanal creams, which are both available in San Francisco. Round 1 Bowling & Arcade is a Japanese-style entertainment center that offers $1 icecream cones.
Chang, like many Bay Area residents in recent years, has been feeling the rising cost of living. He said that the rent of his barbershop went up 10% because he lost clients who were laid off due to their jobs in tech. The rent for his barbershop increased by 10% as he lost clients who were laid off from their tech jobs, he said.
Chang admitted that she was a bit behind in her bills. “I’m looking at my credit cards every month, and wondering, ‘How am I going pay for this?'”
Chang and Tina Chhous try to save money by purchasing generic food and medicines. The couple buys organic milk, but sticks to the conventional brands.
Chhous is willing to accept leftovers from the preschool of their daughter, who’s four years old. Chhous also receives food assistance monthly through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Chang: “I don’t even know where I would be without that.”
The Trump administration increased the SNAP requirements in 2017. Fewer Americans have this buffer. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as of April 37 million Americans had enrolled. This is a decline of 12% from the year before.
Lien Chang, 77, also receives SNAP assistance and goes to two food banks every week. She gives the eggs, canned goods and other produce to the rest of her family.
Chang is a devoted father who loves to spoil his kids. He admits, however, that money might be a less pressing issue if he was single.
He said, “But I do my best to remain optimistic.” Failure is not an alternative for me.
Hawaii is known for its high grocery costs. Hawaii gets almost all of its food by cargo ship, which has traveled many miles. This makes the prices at grocery stores and their selection vulnerable to price spikes.
This year, prices for local products have also increased. Shipping costs between Hawaiian Islands have risen dramatically due to rising fuel prices linked to the Iran Conflict and the financial instability of the company which has the near-monopoly in interisland transportation.
Amanda Tabadero is a 28-year-old pastry chef who lives in Kaneohe on Oahu. She remembers purchasing Maui strawberries and blueberries at $7.99 per pound back in 2024. She buys Californian or Mexican berries at Costco, for only $5 when she wants to bake in bulk.
Tabadero doubts that she’ll buy lychee again any time soon. Kaimana, the variety of lychee grown in Hawaii is mainly from the Big Island. Tabadero bought an iced latte and a bag lychee in Honolulu’s Chinatown for $30.
Tabadero expressed sadness. I want to buy local products.
Butter mochi is one of her favourite sweets. It’s a rice-based dessert that has a nice chewy texture. Even this simple recipe is becoming more difficult to prepare. Tabadero says that milk is now $9 per gallon in a local supermarket chain.
She said that “Foodland was not affordable for the locals.” This is a reference to the popular chain in Honolulu, known for their poke, and with a location centrally located. Tabadero now shops at Target and Times Supermarket in Hawaii.
In her home with three cats, a dog and her parents, she has had to adjust the way that dinner is prepared. Last year, the price of chuck roast, which is a staple in Hawaii, rose to $10 per pound, up from as low as $7.99. Tabadero says that unless she can get a Safeway $5 Friday special, they will have to substitute, even though the stew is what Tabadero craves.
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The Associated Press, The Lexington Observer (Massachusetts), La Esquina (Texas) and Honolulu Civil Beat are collaborating on this report. AP Video journalist Terry Chea provided contributions from San Francisco.