In brief
US fast‑food chain Taco Bell has taken the precautionary step of removing shredded iceberg lettuce from its menu in a handful of states following investigations linking the produce to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that can trigger explosive diarrhoea. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 1,645 cases across five states, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically warning against consumption of lettuce sourced from Mexican farms. No deaths have been recorded, but 94 patients have required hospitalisation. Taco Bell announced that the lettuce will be withdrawn indefinitely and replaced, while it continues to collaborate with health authorities to identify the source of the contamination.
The quick‑service giant has announced that it will discontinue the use of shredded iceberg lettuce in certain menu items across a handful of U.S. states, after health officials identified a link between the produce and an outbreak of cyclosporiasis.
The CDC estimates that 1,645 customers exposed to Taco Bell meals in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia have contracted the parasitic infection. The FDA has issued a warning, advising patrons not to consume lettuce that is shredded and sourced from Mexican farms, which it suspects may be the contamination point.
“There have been no deaths so far, but 94 people have been hospitalised as a result of the illness,” the FDA said. Symptoms typically take up to two weeks to appear and include watery diarrhoea, sudden weight loss and a loss of appetite.
Taco Bell is removing the lettuce indefinitely and will replace it with a different produce item once the source has been identified. The chain emphasised that public health is a collective responsibility shared among restaurants, suppliers and regulatory bodies.
The outbreak is still under investigation and the parasite is notoriously difficult to trace. Experts note that it “is like detecting a microscopic portion of a needle in a haystack” because of limited federal resources for food‑borne disease surveillance.
Meanwhile, Taco Bell’s patrons are advised at counter points to avoid the lettuce‑containing items and to seek medical help if they exhibit any related symptoms.
