FDA links Taco Bell lettuce to cyclospora outbreak in five states

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has identified shredded iceberg lettuce from a single supplier as the source of a cyclospora outbreak affecting Taco Bell restaurants in five states. A federal official, briefed on the investigation, indicated the supplier is Taylor Farms of Salinas, California, though the agency’s public warnings did not name the company.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the parasite, which causes watery diarrhea, has been reported in more than 30 states this year, surpassing the previous record of about 4,700 cases set in 2019. While the illness is rarely life-threatening and is treatable with antibiotics, it can lead to severe gastrointestinal symptoms.

"FDA is working with the supplier of iceberg lettuce to determine if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market," the CDC stated. "Taco Bell has committed to stop using any lettuce from the supplier identified by FDA's traceback investigation."

Taco Bell issued a statement that it had "voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure" and would continue to monitor the situation in line with public-health guidance. Federal health officials noted that other brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels could also be implicated as the investigation proceeds.

Taylor Farms, which has previously been linked to foodborne outbreaks, did not respond to requests for comment. The agency’s investigation follows a pattern of rising cyclospora cases, which experts attribute to improved detection methods and factors such as climate change.