FDA Links Taco Bell Shredded Lettuce to Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Affecting Over 1,600

Contaminated Lettuce Identified

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants in five states as the source of an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak.

On Thursday, the FDA confirmed that shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia was responsible for 1,644 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases.

The FDA's update pointed to a "single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico." While the agency did not name the company, a person familiar with the matter told Business Insider the outbreak was linked to Taylor Farms.

Supplier Response

On Friday, Taylor Farms announced it was pulling all of its iceberg lettuce from central Mexico "indefinitely." An FDA investigation revealed that the cyclospora-contaminated produce originated at one farm that supplied "less than 1%" of the U.S. iceberg lettuce supply.

The investigation remains ongoing, meaning other potential sources of the outbreak could still be identified.

Broader Outbreak

The true number of people sickened this summer is likely much higher, and the outbreak extends beyond Taco Bell's shredded lettuce supply.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cyclospora infections have spread across 34 states since May 1. As of July 13, the agency had confirmed:

• 1,645 cases
• 141 hospitalizations
• No confirmed deaths

Michigan has been particularly hard-hit, reporting more than 4,300 cyclosporiasis cases in that state alone. Michigan health authorities said on Monday that their investigation was also pointing to "lettuce or salad greens" as a potential source of contamination.

Taylor Farms Profile

Taylor Farms is the world's largest producer of salad, supplying chain restaurants like Chipotle and McDonald's, as well as major grocery stores including Costco, Walmart, and Trader Joe's. The company operates 30 processing facilities across North America.

Taco Bell's Response

On Thursday night, Taco Bell stated:

"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."

What Consumers Should Know

Taylor Farms confirmed Friday that salad kits and other produce it sells were unaffected by the iceberg lettuce contamination.

Health experts have recommended:

• Avoiding bagged lettuce and salads until the outbreak is over
• Choosing whole heads of lettuce and removing the outer layer of leaves
• Washing all produce thoroughly

Note: There is no surefire way to wash cyclospora off produce. The safest option is to cook foods to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit.

About Cyclosporiasis

Seasonality

Cyclospora thrives in summer heat. Gwen Biggerstaff, the CDC's deputy director of foodborne, waterborne, and environmental diseases, said Tuesday that "we anticipate continuing to see cases increase possibly through the end of August, which is the end of the cyclosporiasis season."

Symptoms

Cyclosporiasis can take about a week to incubate before people feel sick. Common symptoms include:

• Watery diarrhea
• Cramping
• Gas

The illness can last for several weeks if left untreated. A combination antibiotic, Bactrim, can treat it.

Common Sources

Pre-washed salad kits and bagged salads from various brands have been identified as common sources of cyclospora contamination in recent years. Outbreaks have also been linked to:

• Raspberries
• Snow peas
• Fresh herbs, including cilantro

Challenges in Detection

Cyclospora outbreaks are notoriously difficult to trace because:

• Symptoms take about a week to develop, making it hard to identify the specific meal or food responsible
• The parasite has more complex genetics than other pathogens like E. coli or salmonella, complicating traceback efforts

Dr. Amira Roess, a professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University and former CDC "disease detective," noted that contamination could have been introduced when produce was washed at production facilities or at the farm.

"Typically, it's the contaminated water that is leading to the contaminated produce," she said. "In this country, our drinking water is generally not contaminated with parasites. But what is contaminated with parasites is the produce."