Cyclosporiasis outbreak: officials probe Taco Bell lettuce supplier
US health officials are investigating iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms supplied to Taco Bell as a possible source of a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has infected thousands.
Federal health officials are investigating iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms supplied to Taco Bell as a possible source of an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak, multiple media outlets reported Thursday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the probe.
A Taco Bell spokesperson said in a statement that based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, the chain has voluntarily removed potentially affected lettuce from a supplier in select states. The affected ingredient is being indefinitely removed from its supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states. The statement noted that no official advisory has been issued.
The parasitic illness, which causes watery, explosive diarrhea, has affected thousands of people across the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported earlier this week 1,645 laboratory-confirmed cases and 145 hospitalizations. A backlog of 5,100 cases requires further analysis. The CDC expects the outbreak to continue through August.
Officials have reported that cases in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky are linked. Michigan authorities said Monday that lettuce was a "potential source" of the outbreak.
The Trump administration has faced criticism for cuts to federal food safety programs and for limiting the scope of a CDC program that monitored foodborne illness trends. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the cuts have not affected the federal response, and the CDC and FDA have sufficient resources.
Taylor Farms did not immediately respond to inquiries.
