Taco Bell has stopped using lettuce from the supplier nationwide and is replacing the ingredient in affected states|Mike Mozart|CC BY 2.0
Federal health officials have linked the multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in five US states.
The FDA and CDC officials said more than 1,644 people who became sick reported eating at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
While the agencies didn’t name anyone, they linked it to a single supplier in Mexico. A person close to the investigation revealed it to be Taylor Farms.
Taco Bell has stopped using lettuce from the supplier nationwide and is replacing the ingredient in affected states. However, data from Consumer Edge shows sales in chains have slowed down in Ohio and Michigan, the states with the most outbreaks.
Health officials have advised customers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell restaurants in the five affected states while the investigation continues.
The outbreak is part of a larger nationwide surge in cyclosporiasis cases. More than 5,100 possible infections are under investigation, with at least 140 hospitalizations reported.