Lettuce grown in central Mexico and supplied to multiple Taco Bell locations has been identified as the source of a multistate Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened consumers across the United States.
A produce supplier has initiated a recall of iceberg lettuce shipped to 27 states over concerns of contamination with Cyclospora, a parasite linked to widespread gastrointestinal illness.
The affected products carried “best if used by” dates ranging from July 16 through August 3 and were distributed under several brand names.
Recalled lettuce reached Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The restaurant operator confirmed it removed all impacted lettuce from its locations.
Federal investigators reported that 1,644 people infected with Cyclospora indicated they had eaten at a Taco Bell in those five states.
Walmart has pulled four bagged iceberg lettuce salad products manufactured by the supplier as the recall expanded.
A major food distribution company has halted distribution of the supplier’s processed Mexican iceberg lettuce and stated that food safety remains a critical priority with established quality assurance protocols.
Cyclospora contamination originates from human feces. A food scientist noted that tainted irrigation water used on crops may be connected to the outbreak.
The presence of human fecal material in the food supply was described as striking given the volume of lettuce consumed nationally.
