Taco Bell Lettuce Linked to US Parasite Outbreak

US health officials linked shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell to a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness caused by a parasite.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) traced the contamination to one lettuce supplier in Mexico. Taco Bell locations in five states used the affected lettuce. The states include Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said more than 1,644 people tested positive for cyclosporiasis. Officials connected the cases to Taco Bell locations in the five affected states.

The CDC reported no deaths from the outbreak. However, 94 people required hospital treatment.

Cyclosporiasis can cause severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, and dehydration. The illness can last more than a month without treatment. Health officials said dehydration can become a serious risk.

Federal officials warned people in the affected states not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell. The CDC said the reported cases only cover this outbreak and do not include infections from other sources.

Taco Bell removed potentially affected lettuce from its supplier in select states. The company also removed the ingredient from its nationwide supply chain while it searched for a replacement.

The company said it worked quickly to protect customers. Taco Bell also said it continues to cooperate with suppliers and health officials.

Officials have not named the lettuce supplier. However, reports linked the product to Taylor Farms, a company with facilities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Health officials said Michigan has recorded thousands of cyclosporiasis cases this year. They also warned that state and national figures may differ because states track confirmed and suspected cases differently.