07/17/2026
Public health agencies—including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—along with state health departments, are investigating a multistate Cyclospora outbreak.
The key facts and developments surrounding the link between Taco Bell, supplier Taylor Farms, and the parasite outbreak include:
1. The Source and Affected States
The Product: Traceback data from the FDA traced the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico. Reports indicate the lettuce was supplied by California-based produce giant Taylor Farms to select Taco Bell locations.
Affected Taco Bell Locations: The CDC and FDA issued a specific advisory warning consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell locations in five states:
Michigan (the epicenter of reported illnesses)
Indiana
Kentucky
Ohio
West Virginia
2. Case Numbers and Scope
Confirmed Taco Bell Exposure: The CDC reports over 1,644 confirmed cases across the five affected states among patients who reported eating at Taco Bell, with at least 94 hospitalizations.
Broader Surge: In Michigan alone, local state health officials have recorded thousands of total Cyclospora cases, as the outbreak overlaps with a wider national seasonal surge in cyclosporiasis infections.
3. Response Actions
Taco Bell Action: Taco Bell voluntarily removed the affected shredded iceberg lettuce from its supply chain in the implicated regions and pledged to pull and replace the lettuce nationwide.
Federal Screening: The FDA increased screening at the U.S.–Mexico border for imported produce connected to the outbreak.
4. Consumer Health Guidance
Avoidance: Do not consume menu items containing shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell in Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, or West Virginia.
Symptoms: Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that causes gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms typically begin 2 to 14 days after exposure and include:
Persistent, watery diarrhea
Severe stomach cramps, bloating, and gas
Nausea, fatigue, and weight loss
Medical Care: Because Cyclospora is a parasite rather than a typical bacterium (like E. coli or Salmonella), standard food-poisoning tests may miss it. Patients experiencing prolonged symptoms who ate at affected Taco Bell locations should contact a doctor and request a specific stool parasite test.