The Food and Drug Administration says it finally has a culprit for a nasty stomach bug that has been spreading through Taco Bell restaurants in five states. Shredded iceberg lettuce from one Mexican supplier is the cause.
So far, the CDC has confirmed 1,645 cyclosporiasis cases nationwide as of July 13. Out of those, 1,644 are linked directly to Taco Bell locations. That is almost the entire outbreak.
The parasite has also sickened people in 34 states since May 1.
Get the market news that matters in a five-minute read with Market Briefs, our free daily newsletter
The supplier in question is Taylor Farms, the largest salad producer in the world. The company runs 30 processing facilities across North America. While the FDA did not name them publicly in its initial report, a source identified Taylor Farms as the source of the contaminated lettuce. Taco Bell acted fast - within 24 hours, it said it would replace the affected lettuce in select states and remove the ingredient from its supply chain nationwide.
Walmart also stepped in as a precaution. The retailer pulled four Marketside-brand bagged salad products from its shelves, even though no illnesses had been tied to those specific items. In a statement, Walmart said there was no indication its products were affected but removed them after getting notice from its supplier.
The FDA's traceback investigation involved coordinating with state health officials and analyzing Taco Bell's supply chain records. By interviewing sick customers and examining ingredient deliveries, the agency narrowed down the likely source. Such investigations are time-consuming, but they are crucial for preventing further illnesses. This outbreak underscores the vulnerability of fresh produce to contamination during growing and processing.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that hits your gut hard. It causes watery diarrhea, cramping, and gas that can last for weeks if untreated. The only way to kill it on produce is to cook the food to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit - far above what a salad would ever see.
Experts think the parasite got into the lettuce through contaminated water. Amira Roess, a former CDC disease detective who now teaches at George Mason University, put it plainly. "Typically, it's the contaminated water that is leading to the contaminated produce," she said. She added that while drinking water in the U.S. is generally safe, the water used to wash or irrigate crops can carry parasites.
Gwen Biggerstaff, the deputy director of foodborne diseases at the CDC, warned that this is not over. "We anticipate continuing to see cases increase possibly through the end of August, which is the end of the cyclosporiasis season," she said. The investigation is still ongoing, so other sources of contamination may still turn up.
Taylor Farms has already acted. It has indefinitely removed all its iceberg lettuce from central Mexico and issued a formal recall for those four Marketside salad products.
Join Market Briefs, our free daily newsletter, for a quick daily rundown of the markets
