Iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell linked to cyclospora outbreak
Outbreak Investigation: Iceberg Lettuce Sold at Taco Bell Under Scrutiny
Iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell – Shredded iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell restaurants across the United States has been connected to a growing multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, according to a source with knowledge of the ongoing investigation. The intestinal illness, caused by a microscopic parasite, is experiencing a significant surge nationwide. Since May 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed or is investigating nearly 7,000 cases of the illness. This represents a dramatic increase, with confirmed cases alone exceeding last year’s totals by more than six times. Additionally, health officials have documented at least 141 hospitalizations linked to the outbreak.
Regional Impact and Affected States
While the cyclospora outbreak has national implications, the specific cases tied to iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell are primarily concentrated in the Midwest region. The CDC has identified at least 400 cases connected to this particular outbreak across four states: Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. According to the source speaking with CNN, these are the same states where the affected Taco Bell locations operate. However, the source emphasized that the contaminated produce may have been distributed to additional locations beyond these four states.
The Michigan state health department has reported more than 4,300 cases of cyclospora during the broader outbreak investigation. Officials have interviewed over 1,000 individuals as part of their comprehensive investigation and previously identified lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for the illness. The health department noted that while they cannot definitively confirm every illness stems from the same exposure, the concentrated and sharp increase in cases strongly suggests that the vast majority are associated with the same outbreak. This could potentially make it the largest cyclospora outbreak recorded in the United States.
“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 company stated in a Thursday announcement.
Taco Bell further explained that the affected ingredient from their supplier is being indefinitely removed from their supply chain nationwide. The replacement process is expected to be completed within 24 hours in select states. Meanwhile, Taylor Farms, the supplier responsible for the iceberg lettuce, did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on Thursday.
Cyclosporiasis typically does not spread directly from person to person. Instead, individuals become infected by consuming contaminated food or water. According to the CDC, previous outbreaks have been associated with fresh produce, making this connection consistent with historical patterns. People affected by cyclosporiasis may experience symptoms including watery diarrhea, cramping, and bloating that can persist for weeks.
Federal health officials have confirmed that multiple investigations are currently underway. Some investigations are tied to the large Midwest outbreak, while others involve individual states or cases not yet connected to any specific cluster. Taylor Farms supplies grocery stores and restaurants throughout the country, though it remains unclear exactly how many of its products and which specific locations may be affected by this outbreak.
This is not the first time Taylor Farms produce has been linked to illness outbreaks. The company has faced similar situations in the past, including E. coli cases connected to slivered onions in 2024 and cyclospora cases associated with lettuce in 2013. Consumers are advised to monitor local health department updates and be aware of potential symptoms if they have recently consumed iceberg lettuce from affected sources.
