Taco Bell Pulls Lettuce From Menu in Parts of US Amid Parasite Outbreak

Taco Bell has removed lettuce from its menu in parts of the United States after health authorities linked the ingredient to a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that causes severe diarrhoea.

The fast-food chain said the decision was taken “out of an abundance of caution” following discussions with public health officials.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,645 people across five states who reported eating at Taco Bell have been infected with cyclosporiasis, an illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora, which is typically spread through contaminated food or water.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised consumers not to eat menu items containing shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from Mexico at Taco Bell outlets in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

Health officials said no deaths have been recorded, but 94 people have been hospitalised since the outbreak was first detected on 13 May.

Taco Bell said lettuce supplied by one of its vendors has been removed indefinitely and will be replaced, although it did not specify which states would be affected by the measure.

“While no official advisory has been issued, we believe public health is a shared responsibility among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities,” the company said.

Although Taco Bell did not identify the supplier involved, several US media reports named Taylor Farms as the source of the lettuce. The company has not publicly responded to those reports.

Michigan has recorded the highest number of infections, with more than 3,300 cases reported, according to health authorities.

Cyclosporiasis symptoms typically develop about two weeks after exposure and may include prolonged watery diarrhoea, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite and fatigue.

Food safety experts say tracing the source of the parasite is particularly challenging because of its microscopic size and the complexity of food supply chains.

“This isn’t like detecting a needle in a haystack. It’s like detecting a microscopic portion of a needle in a haystack,” Steven Manderach, executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, told the BBC.

Health experts have also suggested that recent reductions in staffing at some US federal health agencies could make investigations into foodborne outbreaks more difficult.