Federal health officials are reportedly investigating iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms supplied to Taco Bell as a potential source of a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands across the United States. The Washington Post, CNN, and other media outlets reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the investigation, that the lettuce supplier has been linked to the outbreak.
Taco Bell issued a statement confirming it had voluntarily removed potentially impacted lettuce from its supply chain in select states. “Based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell has taken immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states,” a spokesperson said. The company added that the affected ingredient would be indefinitely removed nationwide and replaced within 24 hours in select states. “Taco Bell has taken precautionary action, and we encourage all relevant restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators to do the same,” the statement continued, noting “no official advisory has been issued.”
Cyclosporiasis Cases and Hospitalizations
The parasitic illness cyclosporiasis, which causes watery, explosive diarrhea, has affected thousands. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported earlier this week that it had identified 1,645 lab-confirmed cases of the parasite, with 145 people hospitalized. A backlog of 5,100 cases requires further analysis, the CDC said. The agency noted that while it continues to hunt for the source of the illness, the outbreak is expected to continue through August. Officials have warned that the actual number of infections is likely higher than reported.
“The true number of infections is almost certainly higher, because many people with mild illness recover,” said Gwen Biggerstaff, deputy director of the CDC’s division of foodborne, waterborne, and environmental diseases, on Tuesday. “We’re seeing an unusually high number of cyclosporiasis cases this summer.”
Geographic Scope and Investigation
Officials have reported that cases in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky are linked. Michigan authorities stated on Monday that lettuce was a “potential source” of the outbreak. The Washington Post reported that federal and state officials were examining whether lettuce at Taco Bell locations in Michigan was connected to the outbreak. Taylor Farms has not responded to inquiries.
Political Context and Response
The Trump administration has faced criticism during the surge in illnesses 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 defended the administration’s response, stating that the cuts have not affected the federal government’s handling of the outbreak. “We’ve talked to the CDC and FDA specifically about that, and not at all,” she told reporters on Thursday. “They have the resources they need to make sure that Americans are fully informed and protected from this illness during this time.”
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
