Taylor Farms Spent Millions on Political Donations and Lobbying Before Diarrhea Outbreak

Taylor Farms, the lettuce supplier at the center of the current cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands, has spent millions on political donations and lobbying in recent years, according to public filings.

Federal Election Commission records show that in 2025, Taylor Farms donated over $2 million to conservative political groups. This includes $1 million to MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, and $1.1 million to other Republican super PACs. From 2020 through 2024, the company contributed more than $1.6 million to conservative PACs, with $850,000 going to AFP Action, an anti-regulation super PAC tied to the Koch network.

Bruce Taylor, chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms, has personally donated over $900,000 to Republican PACs and candidates since 2020, including contributions to Senators John Cornyn and Marsha Blackburn.

Like many corporate giants, Taylor Farms has also spent heavily on lobbying related to industry regulation. In early 2025, it hired lobbyists at Sidley Austin to advocate on "regulation of food safety," spending $810,000 on lobbying efforts since then.

Marion Nestle, a food policy expert, noted that these actions are part of a broader problem where billion-dollar companies use their financial resources to push policies that reduce food safety regulation and accountability during outbreaks.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services denied that Taylor Farms' political donations influenced the administration's response to the outbreak.

This is not the first time Taylor Farms, which generates roughly $7 billion in annual revenue, has drawn federal scrutiny. In 2013, the FDA identified the company as a source of a cyclospora outbreak. In 2015, it recalled celery products over potential E. coli contamination. In 2024, it recalled yellow onions linked to an E. coli outbreak tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders. Subsequent FDA inspections found numerous violations at a Colorado facility, including inadequate handwashing and dirty equipment.

Since 2025, the FDA has inspected 18 Taylor Farms plants, with three showing violations requiring voluntary action. OSHA has cited at least 21 violations across facilities, including a $1.1 million fine for a New Jersey plant after an employee died cleaning equipment.