Taco Bell lettuce tied to parasite outbreak

Federal health officials have identified shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell restaurants as a source of a cyclospora outbreak affecting five U.S. states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration have advised consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

The warning followed traceback work that linked the ingredient used at some restaurants in these states to reported cyclospora illnesses. The advisory is limited to shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell in the five named states and does not extend to other menu items or locations in the reports.

Officials reported that 1,644 people who said they had eaten at Taco Bell locations in the five affected states are epidemiologically linked to this outbreak cluster. Within that group, 94 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

The figures relate specifically to the Taco Bell–linked cluster identified by federal health officials. The parasite cyclospora causes diarrheal illness, and the scale of the reported cases has prompted continued public health investigation and monitoring.

FDA traceback investigations identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico used by the Taco Bell locations associated with the illnesses. The federal warnings to consumers did not name the company, but the traceback narrowed the source to one supplier for the implicated restaurants.

Health agencies said they are working with the supplier to determine whether potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market. Ongoing sampling and related checks aim to clarify the extent of distribution of the affected product.

Taco Bell stated it has voluntarily removed potentially impacted lettuce from the identified supplier and committed to stop using lettuce from that supplier named in FDA traceback findings. The company said the affected ingredient is being removed indefinitely from its supply chain.

Taco Bell also said the implicated lettuce would be replaced within 24 hours in select states, indicating steps to maintain menu availability while shifting to alternative sources. These actions are being taken in coordination with federal health guidance.

Taylor Fresh Foods, also known as Taylor Farms, said FDA testing indicated a specific independent farm affiliated with the company was linked to the outbreak. In response, the company is removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market.

The company stated that no other Taylor Fresh Foods products across the country are impacted by this action. Federal and state health agencies continue traceback, sampling, and border screening as part of the broader investigation into the cyclospora outbreak.