Iceberg lettuce sold at Taco Bell linked to Cyclospora outbreak

Key Points:

• Shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and sold at some Taco Bell locations has been linked to a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, primarily affecting the Midwest, according to sources and CDC data.
• Since May 1, nearly 7,000 cases of cyclosporiasis have been confirmed or are under investigation nationwide, with at least 141 hospitalizations; the outbreak linked to Taco Bell lettuce involves at least 400 cases across Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
• Michigan has reported over 4,300 Cyclospora cases during the investigation, with health officials suggesting most illnesses are connected to the same outbreak, potentially making it the largest Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history.
• Taco Bell is voluntarily removing the potentially impacted lettuce from its supply chain in select states and replacing it within 24 hours, while Taylor Farms has not yet commented on the situation.
• Cyclosporiasis is caused by a parasite spread through contaminated food or water, leading to symptoms like watery diarrhea and cramping; multiple investigations are ongoing, and Taylor Farms has been linked to previous produce-related illness outbreaks.