Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served by Taco Bell locations across five U.S. states as a source of a widespread outbreak of the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the source late Thursday, warning consumers to avoid shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
An investigation by the Food and Drug Administration identified a single supplier of the implicated lettuce, though the company has not been publicly identified. The FDA is working with the supplier to determine if any potentially contaminated lettuce remains on the market, including in other states. Taco Bell has stated it will stop using lettuce from the identified supplier.
Cyclospora infections have been reported in more than 30 states this year, with the number of cases surpassing the previous U.S. record of approximately 4,700 set in 2019. The illness is generally not life-threatening and is treatable with antibiotics.
Prior to the federal confirmation, Taco Bell had announced on Tuesday that it voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes watery diarrhea. Outbreaks typically occur in the late spring and summer. The parasite infects the bowels and can spread through feces, often through contaminated fruits or vegetables exposed to contaminated irrigation water. While less common than illnesses caused by other germs like salmonella or E. coli, the number of reported cyclospora cases has been rising over the past decade. Experts attribute this trend to improved detection methods and potentially climate change, alongside historical underreporting.