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Taco Bell entices fans with lettuce-free deals amid cyclospora source rumors
New York Post • • business
Key Points:
- Taco Bell is offering steep discounts, including $1 favorites like Mexican pizzas and Enchiritos, to regain customer traffic after a cyclospora parasite outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms.
- The outbreak, which caused severe gastrointestinal illness in some customers, led Taco Bell to remove the affected lettuce from its restaurants in July and prompted Taylor Farms to pull lettuce sourced from central Mexico.
- Despite initial false positive lab results, the FDA confirmed epidemiological evidence pointing to the lettuce as the outbreak's source, while Taco Bell's CEO Sean Tresvant publicly reassured customers and thanked loyal fans for their support.
- The fast-food chain is now emphasizing menu items without lettuce and leveraging social media promotions to restore consumer confidence amid declining foot traffic since the outbreak began.
- Customer reactions remain mixed, with some continuing to support Taco Bell and others considering legal action due to illness linked to the outbreak.
