Federal health authorities have officially linked shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants to an ongoing outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that has impacted more than 1,600 people across five states. The investigation, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state health departments, identified the affected locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
The FDA’s traceback efforts pinpointed a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico that provided the product to these specific Taco Bell locations. In response to the findings released on Thursday, July 16, Taco Bell announced it has taken immediate, voluntary action to remove the potentially contaminated lettuce from its supply chain in the affected states. The company stated that the product would be indefinitely removed nationwide and replaced within 24 hours in the impacted regions.
Michigan has been particularly affected by the rise in illnesses. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 4,312 cases of the gastrointestinal illness as of July 16, with at least 102 hospitalizations documented since June 22. Local officials analyzed food exposure data from 190 patients who dined at Taco Bell, discovering that 90% of them had consumed iceberg lettuce. Beyond this specific outbreak, the CDC is also monitoring unrelated cases of the infection, which is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis and characterized by nausea, cramps, bloating, low-grade fever, and frequent, watery or explosive diarrhea.
The FDA is currently working with the identified supplier to determine if any additional contaminated product remains on the market. Furthermore, the agency is collaborating with state departments to collect more samples and has increased screening protocols at the border for products linked to the outbreak. Taco Bell, which had previously removed various ingredients from select stores earlier in the week as a precautionary measure, emphasized its commitment to public safety.
"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 company said in an official statement. The fast-food chain further encouraged other restaurant operators and food service providers to remain proactive, noting that while no official advisory has been issued, public health remains a shared responsibility among suppliers, restaurants, and regulatory authorities. Infections related to the parasite have been reported escalating across 34 states in total, though not all are linked to the specific Taco Bell supplier investigation.
