Taco Bell announced a decision to pull all iceberg lettuce from its supply chain. This comes after federal health officials linked a cyclospora outbreak to a specific supplier.

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Health Authorities’ Advisory

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urged consumers to avoid shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Health officials examined 190 cyclospora cases in Michigan, and many of those affected reported consuming Taco Bell’s iceberg lettuce.

Over 1,644 individuals in these states reported illness beginning on May 13. There have been 94 hospitalizations with no fatalities.

Tracing the Contamination Source

The FDA traced the outbreak to a single Mexican supplier of contaminated iceberg lettuce, though it did not disclose the supplier’s name. The FDA continues to work with the supplier to uncover other distribution areas. The agency notes a significant cluster tied to this supplier, although other unrelated clusters exist nationwide. Cases have emerged in 34 states.

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Taco Bell’s Response

On July 16, Taco Bell stated it acted swiftly to voluntarily remove possibly contaminated lettuce from suppliers in select states. The company plans to eliminate and replace the lettuce nationwide within 24 hours.

Industry Impact

The Associated Press identified Taylor Farms as the lettuce supplier, although NPR has yet to confirm this independently. Taylor Farms has not commented on the situation. The U.S. bagged lettuce and salad industry is dominated by a few large companies, including Taylor Farms. A single supplier can broadly distribute lettuce, potentially spreading the cyclospora link across the country. Other outbreaks may trace back to different sources and suppliers. The investigation by the FDA and CDC is ongoing.

Protecting Yourself

Cyclospora symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, and fatigue, resulting from consuming contaminated food or water. To minimize risk, the CDC advises thorough hand and produce washing under running water before consumption or cooking. Cooking at 158°F (70°C) or above can kill the parasite. Wash your hands and any fresh produce thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking. This will reduce the risk of infection. Cooking kills the parasite, so heating food to 158 F or 70 C or higher is effective, said Dr. Gwen Biggerstaff of the CDC.

If symptoms occur, contact a healthcare provider for specific cyclospora testing, as routine stool tests may not cover this parasite. People with symptoms should stay well-hydrated and avoid preparing food for others while acutely ill, out of general caution, even though person-to-person spread is very unlikely, added Biggerstaff.