Fear of Contaminated Lettuce Salad shops in business districts and strip malls nationwide are experiencing a dip in customer visits due to health concerns linked to diarrhea outbreaks.
On July 11, news broke about a Cyclospora outbreak possibly connected to tainted lettuce, resulting in a 7.1% decrease in foot traffic at Chopt compared to the chain’s average Saturday traffic in 2026, as reported by Placer.ai. On that same day, Panera Bread saw a 7.4% decline, while Sweetgreen’s traffic decreased by 3.1% compared to their typical Saturday numbers.
Placer.ai noted for WIRED that it possesses “only a few days’ worth of data,” but the reduction in visitors started around July 10, coinciding with heightened media coverage of the outbreak.
Industry averages suggest that customers are increasingly avoiding salad-centric chains. Conversely, foot traffic at popular quick-service fast-food outlets like McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, and Wendy’s saw a 0.8% increase compared to average Saturday traffic. Overall, fast-casual chains (which typically feature a higher percentage of fresh produce) reported a decline of 2.4% in footfall.
While no salad chains have yet been directly linked to the outbreak—now estimated to have affected nearly 7,000 individuals by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—health officials have identified lettuce and salad greens as potential sources of infection in Michigan, the outbreak’s epicenter. Historical Cyclospora outbreaks have been tied to raw produce like herbs, raspberries, and lettuce. The most effective way to eliminate parasites is through heat, which often doesn’t apply to unprocessed fruits and vegetables.
Wall Street is responding to the growing health concerns, with Sweetgreen’s stock plummeting 23.3% over the last five days. (Chopt and Panera Bread are privately owned and did not respond to WIRED’s inquiries.)
Notably, Taco Bell is among the few chains suspected of being connected to the outbreak. Some locations in the Detroit region displayed notices indicating, “Due to a national recall, lettuce, cilantro onion, pico de gallo, and guacamole are currently unavailable for sale.” According to the Washington Post, health officials are investigating the chain’s involvement in the outbreak.
Shares of Yum Brands, Taco Bell’s parent company, have declined 7.2% in the past five days. Taco Bell’s foot traffic on July 11 fell by 5.8% compared to its average Saturday numbers, with an 11.5% drop reported in Michigan, where cases reached 4,312. Ongoing online discussions about parasite transmission may continue to deter consumers from seeking out options like Gorditas.
Despite the concerns surrounding leafy greens, not all customers are avoiding them. Two patrons outside the Sweetgreen location in Manhattan’s financial district told WIRED that they were unaware of the Cyclospora outbreak. New York state, with 510 reported cases in 2026, has notably fewer cases than Michigan, although over 380 individuals have fallen ill in New York City—exhibiting a threefold increase from the previous year. The local health department states.
Just a few blocks away, Victoria Atwe had only positive thoughts about her first visit to Chopt.
Regarding the Cyclospora outbreak, Atwe remarked, “I honestly didn’t even think about it.”
UPDATE: July 17, 2026, 11:30 a.m. EDT: WIRED has updated the article to clarify that June 11 was a Saturday.
Source: www.wired.com