Lettuce from Mexico Linked to Taco Bell Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

A widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a diarrheal illness caused by the parasite cyclospora, has affected at least 1,645 people across 34 U.S. states, leading to 141 hospitalizations. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported these numbers, though state health departments indicate significantly higher case counts.

For instance, Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services reported at least 4,312 confirmed cases, with 102 requiring hospitalization. The outbreak, first reported in early May, is now under investigation for its source.

A key focus of the traceback investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is Taylor Farms, a Salinas, California-based supplier of iceberg lettuce. This lettuce was reportedly used by Taco Bell restaurants in five states where individuals who contracted cyclosporiasis had dined. The FDA is actively investigating this potential link.

In response to the outbreak, Taco Bell stated it had "voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure." This comes after a similar incident last year where an E. coli outbreak was linked to onions from a Taylor Farms facility, which briefly impacted McDonald's operations.

Taylor Farms, which describes itself as a "leading global producer of salads and healthy fresh foods," supplies numerous major restaurant chains across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe. The investigation aims to pinpoint the exact source of the contamination to prevent further illnesses.

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voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure