Shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and sold at some Taco Bell restaurants has been linked to a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a source familiar with the investigation said Thursday.
Cases of the intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite are surging across the US, with nearly 7,000 cases confirmed or under investigation since May 1, according to data published Tuesday by the CDC. Confirmed cases alone are more than six times higher than they were at this time last year, and there have been at least 141 hospitalizations.
The outbreak linked to the lettuce, however, is considered to be a regional one, centered in the Midwest.
The CDC has identified at least 400 cases associated with the outbreak across four states – Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky – and the source told CNN that those states are where the affected Taco Bell locations are. However, they noted that the produce may have also gone to other places.
The Michigan state health department has reported more than 4,300 cases of cyclospora during the outbreak investigation. Michigan said it has interviewed more than 1,000 people as part of its investigation and had previously noted that lettuce or salad greens may be a potential source for the outbreak.
