Federal health officials announced on Friday that shredded iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico has been linked to a foodborne outbreak at Taco Bell restaurants across five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. This lettuce is the suspected carrier of Cyclospora, the parasite responsible for a rise in food poisoning cases characterized by explosive watery diarrhea nationwide.
A detailed investigation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has pinpointed a single supplier in Mexico associated with the iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations where affected individuals dined. Federal authorities have not officially released the supplier’s name, but sources indicate it may be Taylor Farms.
Notably, Taylor Farms was previously involved in a 2024 multi-state outbreak of Escherichia coli, connected to contaminated onions served at McDonald’s and other fast-food outlets. During inspections at their Colorado facility, FDA officials identified several violations.
In light of the current outbreak, the FDA and CDC are advising consumers to avoid iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants located in the affected states. Fortunately, shredded iceberg lettuce sold at grocery stores and served at other dining establishments has not been implicated in this outbreak so far.
As cyclosporiasis cases are reported nationwide, with 34 states affected by multiple clusters and outbreaks, the CDC indicates that 1,645 individuals have been confirmed infected, including 141 hospitalizations. Local and state health departments are warning of a higher total case count, encompassing probable cases.
Michigan, hit particularly hard by this multi-state outbreak tied to Taco Bell, has recorded 5,002 cases and 102 hospitalizations as of July 17.
Source: arstechnica.com