Iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell linked to cyclospora outbreak

Outbreak Investigation: Iceberg Lettuce Sold at Taco Bell Under Scrutiny

Iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell – Shredded iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell restaurants has been connected to a growing multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, according to a source familiar with the ongoing investigation. The intestinal illness, caused by a microscopic parasite, is experiencing a significant surge across the United States. Since May 1, nearly 7,000 cases have been confirmed or are currently under investigation, based on data published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Confirmed cases alone represent more than six times the number recorded at this time last year, with at least 141 hospitalizations reported so far.

Regional Impact and Affected Locations

The outbreak connected to the iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell is primarily considered a regional issue, centered in the Midwest region. The CDC has identified at least 400 cases associated with this specific outbreak across four states: Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. According to the source speaking with CNN, these four states contain the majority of the affected Taco Bell locations. However, the source also noted that the produce may have been distributed to other locations beyond these states.

The Michigan state health department has reported more than 4,300 cases of cyclospora during the current outbreak investigation. Michigan officials said they have interviewed more than 1,000 people as part of their comprehensive investigation and had previously identified lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for the outbreak.

“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 state health department stated that it “cannot say with certainty that every illness is linked to the same source of exposure” but emphasized that the concentrated, sharp increase in cases “strongly suggests that the vast majority of these illnesses are associated with the same outbreak.” This development would make it the largest cyclospora outbreak in US history. Taco Bell addressed the situation in a statement released Thursday, confirming their proactive measures.

Cyclosporiasis typically does not spread directly from person to person. Instead, individuals can become infected by consuming contaminated food or water. According to the CDC, previous outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce, making this current situation consistent with historical patterns.

People affected by cyclosporiasis may experience symptoms including watery diarrhea, cramping, and bloating that can last for weeks. Federal health officials indicated that multiple investigations are currently underway, with some tied to the large Midwest outbreak, others involving individual states, and some involving cases not yet connected to any specific cluster.

Taylor Farms, the supplier in question, provides produce to grocery stores and restaurants nationwide, though it remains unclear exactly how many of its products and which specific locations may be affected. This is not the first time Taylor Farms produce has been connected to illness outbreaks. The company was previously linked to E. coli cases associated with slivered onions in 2024 and cyclospora cases connected with lettuce in 2013.