Taco Bell Pulls Lettuce from US Menus Amid Cyclospora Parasite Outbreak Investigation

US fast-food chain Taco Bell has temporarily removed shredded iceberg lettuce from select locations after health authorities identified a potential link to a cyclospora outbreak causing severe gastrointestinal illness.

The move follows coordination with public health officials and comes despite no formal advisory being issued. The company emphasized its commitment to consumer safety, stating that lettuce from a single supplier is being withdrawn indefinitely pending further investigation.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,645 individuals across five states experienced cyclospora infections after exposure to Taco Bell products. While no fatalities have been recorded, 94 patients required hospitalization. The first cases emerged on May 13.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically warned consumers against consuming shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico supplied to Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Michigan reported the highest number of cases, exceeding 3,300 infections. Although Taco Bell did not disclose specific states for lettuce removal, the majority of confirmed cases originated in Michigan. Health officials traced the outbreak to a Mexican supplier, with US media identifying Taylor Farms as the implicated entity.

Taylor Farms confirmed to the BBC it is voluntarily withdrawing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the US market. The company acknowledged FDA investigations pointed to one of its independent farms as a potential contamination source.

Cyclospora infections typically present with a two-week incubation period, followed by prolonged watery diarrhea, sudden weight loss, and decreased appetite. Health experts highlighted the parasite’s challenges in detection, citing resource constraints at federal health agencies as complicating factors.

Steven Manderach, executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, described the tracing process as “like detecting a microscopic portion of a needle in a haystack,” underscoring the complexity of identifying such pathogens in food supply chains.

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