Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served by Taco Bell locations across five US states as a source of the widespread outbreak of the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the source late on Thursday and warned consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
The California-based company Taylor Farms is preparing to recall ingredients linked to the widening cyclospora outbreak, Bloomberg News reported, citing a document viewed by the outlet. Cyclospora can cause severe diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea, with symptoms lasting as long as a month. Taylor Fresh Foods said on Friday that none of its branded salads are associated with the outbreak – but it was withdrawing its distribution of lettuce from the region.
A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation identified a single supplier of the lettuce. The federal warnings to consumers did not identify the company. The CDC said the FDA is working with the supplier of iceberg lettuce to determine if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market, including in other states. Taco Bell has committed to stop using any lettuce from the supplier identified by FDA’s traceback investigation.
More than 30 states have reported infections this year, and current data from them shows the number of infections surpassing the record US mark of about 4,700 set in 2019. The illness is not usually life-threatening and is typically treated with antibiotics. Cyclosporiasis is a microscopic, spherical parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements, according to the CDC.
Experts say it is likely that cyclosporiasis cases historically were underreported, in part because some common tests used to check for food poisoning have not been geared to detect cyclospora. They attribute the increasing trend in cases to the climate crisis and better detection. The heat-loving parasite infects the bowels and spreads through feces. In the past, people have been infected by consuming fruits or vegetables that were exposed to feces-contaminated irrigation water.
Taylor Farms has announced the removal of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, a move aimed at containing a foodborne illness outbreak that could escalate into one of the largest in the United States in recent years. The company confirmed its decision on Friday, stating it was based on information provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the previous day.
