Taco Bell is reportedly under investigation for its possible connection to one of the largest-ever outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in the United States. The gastrointestinal illness is not fatal, but it causes severe diarrhea. It is often contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite in human feces. Taco Bell has removed several fresh food items, such as lettuce, from its menus in locations across the country, including in Texas and Michigan. Federal and Michigan officials are now probing whether the fast-food chain could be linked to the latest cyclosporiasis outbreak in the U.S., according to the Washington Post.
Some people who became ill told investigators they had eaten at Taco Bell. Others who became sick had not eaten there, suggesting the outbreak extends beyond the chain, according to the outlet. As one of the hardest-hit states, Michigan officials on Monday identified contaminated leafy lettuce as the leading suspected source of the illness, although other food items can’t be ruled out, they said.
The Washington Examiner contacted Taco Bell for comment. Aside from Detroit-area Taco Bell restaurants, some Taco Bells in Texas have temporarily stopped serving several fresh ingredients, including lettuce, as health officials investigate the foodborne parasite outbreak. Although neither the Food and Drug Administration nor the Agriculture Department has announced a recall of lettuce, cilantro, onions, pico de gallo, or guacamole, signs posted at some Texas restaurants say the ingredients are unavailable due to a “nationwide recall,” according to Click2Houston. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received reports of 843 confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1 and is aware of more than 1,500 cases that require further analysis to confirm the illness as domestically acquired cyclosporiasis.LINDSEY GRAHAM’S RISK OF HEART ATTACK HEIGHTENED BY FAMILY HISTORYSo far this year, multiple states have reported an increase in cases in the past two weeks compared with the same period in 2025. Thirty-one states have reported the illness, according to the CDC. It’s unclear if the outbreaks in different states are connected, the CDC has said, according to NBC News.
