Taco Bell Lettuce Scare: What You Need to Know About the Cyclospora Outbreak

What’s Going On? (The Simple Version)

Imagine you eat a taco, and later you get very sick with tummy troubles. That’s what’s happening to many people who ate shredded lettuce from Taco Bell. The U.S. government’s food and health detectives—the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)—are looking into the lettuce supplier for Taco Bell. They are telling people in four states to avoid a certain kind of shredded lettuce.

What Is Cyclospora?

• Cyclospora is a tiny invisible bug (a parasite) that can live on food.
• If you eat it, you might get:
  • Really bad diarrhea
  • Throwing up or feeling sick (nausea)
  • Tummy cramps
  • Feeling super tired
  • Other stomach problems

Important: Cyclospora is not something you can see or smell. It makes people sick, but so far no one has died from this outbreak.

The Lettuce Test Result

A sample of shredded iceberg lettuce from a company called Taylor Farms de Mexico tested positive for Cyclospora, say federal health officials. This happened while the company was already recalling lettuce in many states because of a growing sickness outbreak.

• The FDA says this contaminated sample was caught at the border (through “import surveillance”) and was not part of the company’s current recall.
• That specific bad lot (batch) is being held by the government.
• Taylor Farms (based in California) is trying to figure out if any of that lettuce is still in stores or people’s homes.

Taylor Farms’ Voluntary Recall

Before the positive test, Taylor Farms said it would voluntarily recall iceberg lettuce from central Mexico and pull all such lettuce from the U.S. market because it might have Cyclospora.

In their recall notice, they said:

“We are actively removing the implicated products. The company has stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of the iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico, notified our customers, and we are continuing to work with the FDA, CDC, and state authorities.”

What Is Being Recalled?

According to the FDA, the recall covers:

• 12-ounce and 24-ounce bags of Marketside iceberg salad
• 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags of Marketside shredded iceberg lettuce
• Sold between June 29 and July 16
• “Best if used by” dates from July 18 through Aug. 3
• Also includes many products sent to restaurants and food businesses

The affected lettuce went to 27 states.

Taco Bell’s Response

• The FDA said Taco Bell would stop using lettuce from the supplier linked to the outbreak.
• Taco Bell said it voluntarily removed possibly affected lettuce in states where people got sick.
• The outbreak has made 1,644 people sick and hospitalized 94 across five states. No deaths reported.
• Not every Taco Bell in those five states used the bad lettuce.

Which States and What Should You Do?

The FDA is investigating illnesses in:

1. Indiana
2. Kentucky
3. Michigan
4. Ohio
5. West Virginia

They advise people in these states not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell.

Important: If you bought the recalled lettuce, throw it away right now or return it to the store for your money back.

Taylor Farms Branded Salads

• Taylor Farms said its branded salad products are NOT part of the outbreak.
• On Instagram, they repeated that none of their branded salad kits are involved.
• They voluntarily pulled iceberg lettuce from their Mexico operation after the FDA told them about the problem.

How Did They Find the Source?

The FDA did a “trace-back” (like following breadcrumbs) and found Taylor Farms de Mexico supplied the shredded iceberg lettuce used at Taco Bell locations where sick customers ate before feeling ill.

Summary

• A parasite called Cyclospora was found on shredded lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico.
• Taco Bell stopped using that supplier’s lettuce; Taylor Farms recalled lots of bagged lettuce.
• Over 1,600 people in 5 states got sick; 94 went to the hospital.
• If you live in IN, KY, MI, OH, or WV, don’t eat Mexican shredded lettuce from Taco Bell, and toss any recalled bags at home.

FAQ

Q: What is Cyclospora in plain words?
A: It’s a microscopic germ (parasite) that can get on lettuce and give you bad stomach sickness like diarrhea and cramps.

Q: Is Taco Bell’s regular food unsafe everywhere?
A: No. Only certain Taco Bells in five states used the linked lettuce, and they removed it. Other menu items are not part of this warning.

Q: Are Taylor Farms bagged salads at the store dangerous?
A: Their branded salad kits are said to be NOT linked. But their Marketside iceberg salad and shredded lettuce bags with the dates listed are recalled.

Q: What do I do if I have the recalled lettuce?
A: Throw it in the trash or bring it back to the store for a refund. Don’t eat it.

Q: Can I cook the lettuce to make it safe?
A: The FDA just says don’t eat it and return or trash it. It’s safest to follow that advice.