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)<\/a>, 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.<\/strong><\/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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now the produce company identified as Taco Bell\u2019s lettuce supplier is taking broader action.<\/p>\n Taylor Farms said<\/a> 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 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:<\/strong><\/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<\/a>, 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 Justin Sullivan / Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Taco Bell<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/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 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<\/a> 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 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<\/a> to slivered onions served on McDonald\u2019s<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/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<\/a>.<\/p>\nTaylor Farms pulls Mexican iceberg lettuce<\/strong> amid cyclospora outbreak<\/h2>\n
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Taco Bell removes supplier\u2019s lettuce nationwide<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Taylor Farms addresses packaged salad concerns<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Taylor Farms was also tied to McDonald\u2019s E.coli outbreak<\/strong><\/h2>\n