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Cyclospora fears lead consumers to lose their appetite for salads
CNBC • • general
Key Points:
- Salad sales and traffic at salad-focused restaurants like Chopt Creative Salad Co. and Sweetgreen have declined significantly due to consumer fears from the ongoing cyclospora outbreaks linked to contaminated lettuce.
- The FDA identified iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms' Mexico facility as the likely source of the outbreak, leading to product recalls and impacting both restaurants and grocery store sales, with prepackaged salad sales dropping 14% year-over-year.
- Major chains like Taco Bell and Chipotle have also experienced sales dips, with Chipotle noting a 200 basis point decline related to the outbreak and other food safety concerns.
- Restaurants are responding by emphasizing food safety measures and sourcing practices to reassure customers, with some states like Michigan lifting broad warnings as infection rates slow.
- Despite the scare, some consumers continue to purchase salads and greens, indicating varied responses to the outbreak across the population.
