Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taco Bell lettuce sickens thousands

A massive cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell has sickened thousands across the United States, with over 1,600 confirmed cases and potentially thousands more under investigation. The CDC and FDA have traced the source to lettuce from Mexico supplied by Taylor Farms.

What happened

The CDC identified 1,644 confirmed infections across five states — Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia — linked to Taco Bell locations Source: FoxBusiness. Michigan alone has reported more than 5,000 cases, with over 100 hospitalizations Source: DW. The FDA traceback investigation pointed to a single supplier: Taylor Farms, which voluntarily removed iceberg lettuce from central Mexico from the U.S. market Source: The Verge. Taco Bell stated it removed the affected lettuce indefinitely and replaced it within 24 hours in select states Source: APNews.

Response and fallout

In an unusual move, Mexico issued a travel advisory for U.S.-bound travelers, warning of the risk of cyclosporiasis Source: Mexico News Daily. A lawsuit has been filed against a Taco Bell franchisee by an Ohio man who became ill after eating at the chain Source: FoxBusiness. The outbreak comes at a time when Taco Bell had been posting strong sales growth, but analysts warn it may dent near-term performance Source: DW.

Investigation challenges

The response has been hampered by staffing cuts at the CDC. The agency’s cyclospora lab was downsized from 11 people to just three last year due to DOGE initiatives Source: Wired. Former CDC scientist Joel Barratt warned that “these outbreak responses… are going to be greatly diminished” Source: Wired. Experts say the true number of infections is likely higher, as many cases go unreported.

The outbreak is the largest in recent years, surpassing the 2019 record of about 4,700 cases Source: The Guardian. Health officials continue to investigate whether other brands or retailers may be affected.