Cyclospora outbreak in US: Taco Bell lettuce supplier under FDA, CDC lens as hundreds fall sick
The contaminated iceberg lettuce was supplied to Taco Bell restaurants in five states, prompting the CDC to advise against consuming it from those locations
Health authorities CDC and FDA have identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico, Taylor Farms, as the likely source of a significant cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting over 6,000 individuals across 34 states in the U.S. Nearly 200 people have been hospitalized due to the parasite infection, which causes severe diarrhea. Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia were identified as receiving the contaminated lettuce. The CDC has advised consumers to avoid shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell in these specific states while the investigation continues. Out of caution, Taco Bell has voluntarily removed the implicated lettuce from its supply chain nationwide and is working to replace it rapidly in affected regions. This proactive measure highlights a shared responsibility in protecting public health among restaurants, their suppliers, and regulatory agencies.
Health authorities CDC and FDA have identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico, Taylor Farms, as the likely source of a significant cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting over 6,000 individuals across 34 states in the U.S. Nearly 200 people have been hospitalized due to the parasite infection, which causes severe diarrhea. Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia were identified as receiving the contaminated lettuce. The CDC has advised consumers to avoid shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell in these specific states while the investigation continues. Out of caution, Taco Bell has voluntarily removed the implicated lettuce from its supply chain nationwide and is working to replace it rapidly in affected regions. This proactive measure highlights a shared responsibility in protecting public health among restaurants, their suppliers, and regulatory agencies.
Health authorities CDC and FDA have identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico, Taylor Farms, as the likely source of a significant cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting over 6,000 individuals across 34 states in the U.S. Nearly 200 people have been hospitalized due to the parasite infection, which causes severe diarrhea. Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia were identified as receiving the contaminated lettuce. The CDC has advised consumers to avoid shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell in these specific states while the investigation continues. Out of caution, Taco Bell has voluntarily removed the implicated lettuce from its supply chain nationwide and is working to replace it rapidly in affected regions. This proactive measure highlights a shared responsibility in protecting public health among restaurants, their suppliers, and regulatory agencies.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked the Taco Bell lettuce supplier to the cyclosporiasis outbreak. Over 6,000 people across the US were infected with an "explosive diarrhoea-causing" parasite. Nearly 200 people were hospitalised as of Thursday.
A single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico was identified as the potential source of the outbreak by the central agencies. The iceberg lettuce linked to the outbreak was supplied to Taco Bell restaurants across five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
The CDC urged people not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in those states while the investigation continues.
Investigators have identified Taylor Farms as the supplier of the contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce, The Washington Post reported, citing sources familiar with the inquiry who spoke after federal agencies declined to name the company.
“The investigation remains active, and additional states, restaurants, retailers, or products may be identified as more information becomes available,” said Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the Health and Human Services Department.
During the investigation, officials noted that a very high percentage of people who fell sick had consumed lettuce as a topping or add-on from the Taco Bell menu.
Taylor Farms describes itself as one of the world's leading producers of salads and healthy fresh foods, operating production facilities across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe.
“Based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell has taken immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states. The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states,” Taco Bell said in a statement.
“While no official advisory has been issued, we believe public health is a shared responsibility among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities, and we are proud to have consistently acted quickly and proactively to protect our guests. Taco Bell has taken precautionary action, and we encourage all relevant restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators to do the same,” it read.
Cases have been identified in at least 34 states, and confirmed illnesses could continue to increase through the end of August.