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Taco Bell offering $1 lettuce-free deal amid cyclospora outbreak

USA Today • July 22, 2026 • general

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Taco Bell is offering a $1 Enchirito promotion, a lettuce-free menu item, amid a significant drop in foot traffic linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak associated with its lettuce supply.
The fast-food chain experienced a more than 30% decline in visits on July 17 compared to average Fridays earlier in the year, following the FDA's identification of Taylor Farms lettuce as connected to the outbreak.
Taco Bell removed Taylor Farms lettuce from its menu as a precaution after the FDA linked the lettuce to the parasitic illness causing cyclosporiasis, which has resulted in thousands of confirmed and suspected cases across the U.S. since May 1.
The CDC reported 4,173 laboratory-confirmed cases and 308 hospitalizations related to cyclosporiasis as of July 21, with many additional cases pending confirmation, while the FDA continues investigating the outbreak source.
Despite an initial positive test for cyclospora in a Taylor Farms lettuce sample being later deemed a false positive, Taylor Farms remains under scrutiny as the FDA collects further samples and investigates.

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