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The Center for Disease Control has identified lettuce served at Taco Bell as the cause of a cyclosporiasis outbreak in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia – the organization is still working with the supplier to see if the contaminated produce was sent to other states.
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Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by the parasite cyclospora. It can cause prolonged, watery diarrhea and other symptoms. The FDA’s traceback investigation has identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce used in the fast food restaurant as a culprit, and Taco Bell is “working to stop using this lettuce.”
The Washington Post has identified the lettuce supplier as Taylor Farms, but the CDC has only publicized that “Consumers should avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.”
Bloomberg News reported Friday that Taylor Farms planned to issue a product recall. The Wall Street Journal reported the company is voluntarily removing all lettuce sourced in Mexico from the U.S. market.
Taylor Farms released a statement July 17 saying the company is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.
“While the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm that represents less than 1% of the U.S.’s iceberg lettuce supply as the potential source of the outbreak, we have removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely,” the company wrote.
Taylor Farms also said no salads or kits are associated with the cyclospora outbreak, and no salad kits use iceberg lettuce.
More than 1,644 people in those states reported eating at Taco Bell before the onset of illness, which can be up to two weeks.
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“CDC is also investigating other outbreaks and illnesses of cyclosporiasis nationally that are unrelated to this outbreak,” The CDC wrote on its website.
Domestic cyclosporiasis cases have been identified by the CDC in 34 states.
The CDC has documented 1,645 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1 and is investigating at least 5,100 more.
Michigan has been hit hardest by the outbreak. The CDC has confirmed 501-900 domestically acquired cases as of May 1, but Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services reported 5,002 cases as of July 16.
Very young, old and immunocompromised people are at higher risk of a severe infection. Cyclosporiasis may take up to two weeks to cause symptoms, and often lasts longer than food poisoning.
According to the CDC, symptoms include:
Less common symptoms may include:
Cyclosporiasis can be treated with a combination antibiotic, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Most people recover without treatment. Patients who suspect cyclosporiasis should ask medical staff to test for it, as it is not routine.
Cooking or cleaning produce carefully can lower the risk of infection. Clean produce with clean water and dry it.
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Portions of this story were previously published in The News & Observer.