<\/p>\n
A parasite that causes prolonged bouts of watery diarrhea has been spreading across parts of the Midwest, sickening more than 1,600 people and sending dozens to hospitals.<\/p>\n
In the most recent update from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the illnesses have now been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants.<\/p>\n
This update has turned what began as a public-health investigation into a major food-supply problem for one of the country\u2019s largest fast-food chains.<\/p>\n
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can contaminate food or water through contact with fecal matter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unlike some common stomach illnesses that pass within a few days, cyclospora infections can cause symptoms that last for weeks or even longer.<\/p>\n
The most common symptom is frequent, watery diarrhea.\u00a0<\/p>\n
People may also experience stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, weight loss, vomiting, body aches, headaches, and fever.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Symptoms can improve over time, but also return if the infection is not treated.<\/p>\n
So far, the FDA has connected 1,644 illnesses to shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.<\/p>\n
At least 94 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Illnesses began between May 13 and July 13, according to the FDA.<\/p>\n
Now the produce company identified as Taco Bell\u2019s lettuce supplier is taking broader action.<\/p>\n
Taylor Farms said July 17 that its Mexican operation is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market.<\/p>\n
Taylor Farms pulls Mexican iceberg lettuce amid cyclospora outbreak<\/p>\n
Taylor Farms said the FDA\u2019s traceback investigation identified a specific independent farm in central Mexico as the potential source of the outbreak.<\/p>\n
The farm accounts for less than 1% of the iceberg lettuce supplied in the U.S., according to the company.<\/p>\n
More Recalls:<\/p>\n
FDA recall hits 2.5 million bottles of widely used eye dropsMassive cottage cheese recall expands after 1 death, 12 illnessesPopular dog food brand recalled over dangerous material<\/p>\n
Still, Taylor Farms said it is indefinitely removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from the region, rather than limiting the action to the individual farm under investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a family-owned company, we are deeply concerned for those who became ill, their families, and the Americans whose trust in the safety of fresh produce has been shaken,\u201d Taylor Farms said.<\/p>\n
The FDA has not named Taylor Farms on its public outbreak page.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, news organizations, including The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the investigation, identified Taylor Farms as the supplier of the shredded lettuce served at affected Taco Bell restaurants.<\/p>\n
Investigators reviewed food histories from people who reported eating at Taco Bell before becoming sick.<\/p>\n
Of 190 patients included in the ingredient-level analysis, 90% reported eating iceberg lettuce.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The FDA\u2019s traceback investigation then converged on one supplier of Mexican iceberg lettuce used at restaurants where customers later became ill.<\/p>\n
Federal and state officials have begun collecting samples for testing. The FDA has also increased border screening for products implicated in the investigation.<\/p>\n
Taylor Farms has issued removal of all iceberg lettuce from linked supplier of parasitic outbreak.<\/p>\n
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images<\/p>\n
Taco Bell removes supplier\u2019s lettuce nationwide<\/p>\n
Taco Bell had already begun removing potentially affected lettuce from restaurants in select states after consulting public-health officials.<\/p>\n
The chain then expanded that response by indefinitely removing the ingredient from the supplier across its nationwide supply chain.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states,\u201d Taco Bell said.<\/p>\n
The FDA said Taco Bell committed to stopping the use of any lettuce from the supplier identified in the traceback investigation.<\/p>\n
But the agency also warned that additional states, restaurant chains, retailers, brands, or distribution channels could be identified as the investigation continues.<\/p>\n
Taylor Farms addresses packaged salad concerns<\/p>\n
The supplier\u2019s name has caused anxiety beyond Taco Bell, as Taylor Farms has a large presence in both the restaurant and grocery industries.<\/p>\n
Taylor Farms operates across retail, food-service, and prepared-food or deli businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The company website says it has 22 production locations across North America, more than 24,000 employees, and supplies over 265 million servings of fresh food every week.<\/p>\n
It also says it makes two out of every five value-added salads sold in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Taylor Farms grows about one-quarter of its vegetables and obtains the rest through partnerships with 280 family-owned farms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It also works with more than 800 ingredient suppliers.<\/p>\n
The company produces whole vegetables, washed and cut produce, salad kits, snack products, and ready-to-eat meals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It also manufactures private-label foods that may be sold under retailers’ or other businesses’ names.<\/p>\n
Its known business relationships include Walmart, which named Taylor Farms its Food Supplier of the Year in 2022, and Gordon Food Service, a major distributor serving restaurants and institutional customers.<\/p>\n
However, the size of the company\u2019s network does not mean all Taylor Farms products or customers are connected to the outbreak.<\/p>\n
Taylor Farms said none of its branded salads or salad kits are associated with the current illnesses.<\/p>\n
The company also said its branded salad kits do not contain iceberg lettuce.<\/p>\n
That distinction is important because consumers have questioned online whether they should discard Taylor Farms salad kits and other packaged products unrelated to Taco Bell.<\/p>\n
The FDA has not issued a blanket warning covering every Taylor Farms item, every packaged salad, or all iceberg lettuce sold nationwide.<\/p>\n
Taylor Farms was also tied to McDonald\u2019s E.coli outbreak<\/p>\n
The Taco Bell investigation is the second major fast-food outbreak in less than two years involving produce supplied by Taylor Farms.<\/p>\n
In October 2024, an E. coli outbreak was linked to slivered onions served on McDonald\u2019s Quarter Pounders.<\/p>\n
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified Taylor Farms as the supplier of onions sent to the affected McDonald\u2019s restaurants.<\/p>\n
The outbreak ultimately sickened 104 people across 14 states, and 34 people were hospitalized, while one person died.<\/p>\n
At the time, McDonald\u2019s temporarily removed Quarter Pounders from restaurants in affected markets, then returned them without slivered onions.<\/p>\n
The outbreak also weighed on customer traffic and contributed to weaker U.S. comparable sales at McDonald’s during the quarter.<\/p>\n
“The E.coli outbreak from the Quarter Pounder, which led to a temporary menu removal and a decline in visits, continues to have a lingering negative impact on sales,” read the company report.<\/p>\n
This underscores how quickly a problem involving a single ingredient can become a financial and reputational threat for a national restaurant chain.<\/p>\n
Taco Bell may now face the same challenge, although there is no evidence yet showing that the cyclospora outbreak has reduced its sales.<\/p>\n
The chain\u2019s decision to remove the supplier\u2019s lettuce nationwide could help contain the damage, especially if federal officials do not connect the product to additional restaurants or states.<\/p>\n
What to avoid in parasitic diarrhea outbreak<\/p>\n
The FDA advises consumers not to eat food containing shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.<\/p>\n
Consumers outside those five states have not been advised to avoid Taco Bell lettuce.<\/p>\n
Anyone who purchased affected Taco Bell food should clean and sanitize any containers or surfaces that may have come into contact with the lettuce.<\/p>\n
People who experience frequent watery diarrhea or other symptoms after eating Taco Bell lettuce in one of the five states should contact a health care provider.<\/p>\n
Cyclospora infections can be treated with prescription medication, but untreated illnesses may persist for weeks and can lead to dehydration.<\/p>\n
People with weakened immune systems may face a greater risk of prolonged or serious illness.<\/p>\n
The FDA\u2019s investigation remains ongoing, meaning the list of affected businesses, products, and states could still expand.<\/p>\n
Related: 105-year-old historic hotel by national park files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy<\/p>\n
#Taco #Bell #supplier #pulls #lettuce #parasite #outbreak<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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