FDA and CDC Link Taco Bell Lettuce to Multistate Cyclosporiasis Outbreak
Health officials have identified shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell in five states as a possible source of a large cyclosporiasis outbreak, prompting the chain to remove the ingredient from its supply chain.
U.S. health authorities said shredded lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky may be linked to a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a joint advisory on July 16, noting that the finding currently applies only to the five states under investigation, and that additional states could be added as more information becomes available.
Taco Bell said it had "voluntarily removed potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states" and would eliminate the ingredient from its nationwide supply chain, replacing it within 24 hours at affected locations. The lettuce was reportedly sourced from produce supplier Taylor Farms, which did not comment on the investigation.
The outbreak is the largest recorded this year, with the CDC reporting more than 6,700 confirmed or probable cases nationwide as of mid-July, compared with 2,700 cases in all of 2025. Michigan alone has reported over 5,000 cases and 102 hospitalizations. The CDC has confirmed 1,645 cases in 34 states since May 1 and is investigating an additional 5,100 probable cases.
Cyclospora spreads when people ingest food or water contaminated with fecal matter. Fresh produce, especially leafy greens, has been implicated in recent U.S. outbreaks. Experts said person-to-person transmission is unlikely because the parasite requires one to two weeks outside the body to become infectious.
The CDC advised consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell locations in the five states while the investigation continues. Officials emphasized that most fresh fruits and vegetables remain safe and that the outbreak likely involves multiple sources beyond the Taco Bell-linked lettuce.
Public health guidance includes thorough washing of produce, cooking to at least 158 °F when possible, and good hand hygiene. Treatment with a specific antibiotic regimen is effective, and individuals experiencing prolonged watery diarrhea are urged to seek medical care.