The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is demanding answers from Taylor Farms about whether the company used ties to the White House to influence the federal response to a nationwide cyclospora outbreak linked to its recalled lettuce. Thousands of people across dozens of states have become sick.
Rep. Robert Garcia of California sent a letter Monday to Taylor Farms CEO Bruce Taylor, according to CBS News. Garcia said the company donated millions to President Trump, met privately with the White House the night the FDA identified their lettuce as the source of the outbreak, and then reportedly tried to distance itself from the crisis.
"Taylor Farms donated millions to President Trump, met privately with the White House the night the FDA identified their lettuce as the source of this outbreak and then reportedly tried to distance themselves from this outbreak," Garcia said in a statement. He added, "Thousands of Americans became sick. Trust in our public health system is on the line. The American people deserve to know Taylor Farms' full role in this outbreak, and we're demanding answers."
Federal Election Commission records show Taylor Farms contributed $1 million to President Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., in 2025. The company also contributed more than $1 million to other Republican political action committees last year, according to additional FEC filings.
In his letter, Garcia wrote that evidence points to Taylor Farms products as a source of the outbreak, but that the company may have attempted to influence the FDA investigation. "Evidence points to Taylor Farms products as a source of the outbreak, but reports indicate that your company may have attempted to influence the ongoing Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation into the matter, obfuscate Taylor Farms' role in a public health crisis and mislead consumers trying to keep their families safe," he wrote.
Garcia is demanding that Taylor Farms disclose all communications with federal agencies about cyclospora since the outbreak began, as well as any communications with the White House since January 21. He is also requesting documents related to the company's food safety protocols.
The White House rejected Garcia's claims. "Any notion that the White House or Trump administration would ever compromise on the health and safety of the American people is absolutely false," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement to CBS News.
A Taylor Farms spokesperson did not directly address the letter but reiterated that the safety of the company's food is paramount and said that, according to the FDA, there have been no confirmed positive test results for cyclospora as of July 24.
