Taco Bell investigated as lettuce emerges as possible source of cyclosporiasis outbreak

[mystery-ak]

Published July 14, 2026 11:53am EDT
Taco Bell investigated as lettuce emerges as possible source of cyclosporiasis outbreak
Federal and state agencies reportedly reviewing whether Taco Bell contributed to Michigan's largest-ever parasite outbreak

    By Kristen Altus FOXBusiness


One of America’s most popular fast-food chains is under scrutiny as federal and state health officials investigate whether Taco Bell locations may be connected to a rapidly growing cyclosporiasis outbreak.

Federal and state health agencies are investigating whether Taco Bell locations may have contributed to a widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite, according to two anonymous sources familiar with the investigation who spoke to The Washington Post.

In recent days, multiple local and national news outlets reported that signs appeared at Detroit-area Taco Bell restaurants notifying customers that the locations could not serve lettuce, cilantro onions, pico de gallo or guacamole because of "a national recall."

In an email statement to Fox News Digital, Taco Bell Corp. said: "The health and safety of our guests is our top priority. Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer. While authorities continue their broader review, Taco Bell has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities."

Neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration nor the Department of Health and Human Services immediately responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The FDA has not announced a recall involving Taco Bell, and its website does not include any public notice mentioning Taco Bell in connection with the outbreak.

Cyclosporiasis cases are rising across America, with more than 2,600 cases reported in Michigan. This is the largest outbreak of its kind in Michigan's history and one of the country’s largest in years, according to the Associated Press.

more
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/taco-bell-investigated-lettuce-emerges-possible-source-cyclosporiasis-outbreak

[roamer_1]

Alright... I take it that'll give you a belly ache and the scours...

My question is, wrt Taco Bell, how do you tell the difference?

 

[mystery-ak]

Alright... I take it that'll give you a belly ache and the scours...

My question is, wrt Taco Bell, how do you tell the difference?

 

 

[mountaineer]

If TB has gotten any tainted lettuce, so have countless other restaurants.

[Smokin Joe]

If TB has gotten any tainted lettuce, so have countless other restaurants.

My thoughts, too.

[corbe]

   Guess it's back to Milk of Magnesia for me   

[Drago]

Taylor Farms exonerated:

https://x.com/YourTaylorFarms/status/2079037403973738528?s=20

[libertybele]

There are mixed report of Taylor Farms being exonerated and I have even read stories where Taylor farms were major contributors to MAGA PACS.  At any rate, buyer beware; I seldom shop at Aldis for groceries -- I picked up a bag of mixed salad greens, and to error on the side of caution I later entered the name of the salad mix and product code and AI came up with "Do Not Consume" -- turns out that Taylor Farms produces lettuces for Aldis and it is rebranded under a different name.

Doing a little bit of research this isn't the first time Taylor Farms has had to recall products.  The conditions in the fields in Mexico are horrible; toilet paper in the fields and pickers/packagers don't wash their hands.  Who knows what the water source is like.

https://www.facebook.com/CBSEveningNews/videos/iceberg-lettuce-grown-by-taylor-farms-in-central-mexico-linked-to-cyclospora-out/2105332920079800/

[libertybele]

On Monday, however, the FDA said that the "false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for [the] FDA's ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms." The agency added that its "traceback investigation and outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/taylor-farms-cyclospora-outbreak/

[DCPatriot]

I smell terrorism.    

[libertybele]

I smell terrorism.    

I'm not quite sure if you're kidding or not .... but this isn't the first time there have been people getting sick from eating tainted foods; strawberries, lettuce, onions, raspberries, nuts, baby fomula, etc., and the screwworm is attacking ..... terrorism?  Who knows, but I do know that it would be very easy to contaminate our food and water supplied. Take a look for instance at Boar's Head products; their facilities still aren't in compliance.  So, how helpful and watchful is the FDA ??

[DCPatriot]

I'm not quite sure if you're kidding or not .... but this isn't the first time there have been people getting sick from eating tainted foods; strawberries, lettuce, onions, raspberries, nuts, baby fomula, etc., and the screwworm is attacking ..... terrorism?  Who knows, but I do know that it would be very easy to contaminate our food and water supplied. Take a look for instance at Boar's Head products; their facilities still aren't in compliance.  So, how helpful and watchful is the FDA ??

Was under the impression that the bacteria is the result of human or animal waste.

So why not a spray developed in one of the 57 BIO labs recently in the news cycle?

Seems the only safe place to buy produce today is at an Amish market.   

[DCPatriot]

Diarrhea parasite spreading in 41 states - with suspected cases topping 11,000
... as officials continue to scramble to find the source

READ MORE: Horrifying reality of America's 'diarrhea parasite' outbreak laid bare

By ANNA WRIGHT, US REPORTER

Published: 07:28 EDT, 24 July 2026 | Updated: 11:42 EDT, 24 July 2026



The 'explosive diarrhea parasite' cyclosporiasis is running rampant across the US, with thousands of additional cases pushing the outbreak to a record high.

Some 4,173 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported across 41 states, the CDC confirmed on Tuesday.

However, officials warn the true toll could stretch past 11,000, as more than 7,400 additional reports are still awaiting laboratory confirmation and investigation.

Many of the newly reported cases have come from Michigan and Ohio, and local health departments are reporting more than 7,000 in those states alone. At least 308 people have been hospitalized.

Despite the spike in cases, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr called the multi-state outbreak 'under control.'

'We do have the outbreak under control,' he told ABC News on Tuesday, marking one of the first times RFK Jr has spoken on the outbreak since it was being initially investigated.

'We have an extensive forensics, epidemiological forensics, and we've identified the source of the outbreak. We and the companies that are involved have implemented a recall.'

His comments follow officials trying to scramble to find the source of the outbreak, as the FDA initially thought lettuce supplied by produce grower Taylor Farms was the culprit.

https://www.dailymail.com/health/article-16000849/diarrhea-parasite-cyclosporiasis-cases-increasing.html

[libertybele]

Was under the impression that the bacteria is the result of human or animal waste.

So why not a spray developed in one of the 57 BIO labs recently in the news cycle?

Seems the only safe place to buy produce today is at an Amish market.   

Spray??

We are bombarded by produce in our stores from Mexico, Guatemala, Chili, Peru, etc., that I try to buy produce only from the USA -- but even conditions in CA (going by what I've read) aren't that much better. So again, how efficient is the FDA?

Amish or local farmers. 

[Polly Ticks]

http://youtube.com/shorts/Gl3xbBq4SiI?si=8g9ndO6WXv-EaMzn

[DCPatriot]

[DCPatriot]

http://youtube.com/shorts/Gl3xbBq4SiI?si=8g9ndO6WXv-EaMzn

 

[libertybele]

Yum.  Biscuits and gravy!!!