Iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants linked to U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak, Washington Post reports
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- Taylor Farms-supplied shredded iceberg lettuce shipped to Yum Brands' Taco Bell restaurants has been identified as a potential contamination source in the cyclosporiasis outbreak, the Washington Post reported, citing two people familiar with the investigation.
- Michigan health officials reported 4,312 cases of the parasitic intestinal infection on Thursday, with Ohio and New York also reporting large caseloads since the outbreak began May 1.
- The CDC said this week it identified a likely link among cases in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, suggesting many infections may stem from a common source.
- Taco Bell removed a limited number of ingredients from some restaurants as a precaution but stressed U.S. health authorities had not officially linked the outbreak to the chain, any specific food, or any supplier.
- The U.S. FDA is expected to soon advise consumers to avoid shredded lettuce at Taco Bell locations in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana, according to a separate Bloomberg News report.
- Health officials noted the scale and geographic spread of this year's outbreak are significantly larger than previous U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreaks, prompting heightened concern.
Why it matters: With over 4,300 cases in Michigan alone and four additional states flagged by the CDC, this outbreak is larger in scale than prior cyclosporiasis incidents in the U.S. An FDA advisory specifically targeting Taco Bell's shredded lettuce — supplied by Taylor Farms — could force ingredient removals at hundreds of locations and trigger broader scrutiny of produce supply chains serving major fast-food chains.
