Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials HomeNewsRetail & MarketingU.S. cyclospora outbreak tied to Taco Bell lettuce from MexicoThe burgeoning outbreak has been difficult for health authorities to trackAuthor of the article:Last updated 1 hour ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Earlier this week, the Mexican-inspired chain owned by Yum! Brands Inc., said it would remove some ingredients at select restaurants “voluntarily and temporarily” as a precaution. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty ImagesUnited States regulators traced a parasite outbreak that’s sickened thousands in Michigan and nearby states to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants, identifying a single supplier as the apparent source.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert over the diarrhea-causing cyclospora parasite, advising consumers not to eat the ingredient at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.Taco Bell said it has voluntarily removed lettuce from a supplier and will replace it within 24 hours at restaurants in affected states. The supplier’s lettuce is being removed indefinitely from its supply chain nationwide as a precaution, the company said in a statement. A worker holds a head of green curly lettuce at Lufa Farms in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Monday, May 15, 2023. Photo by Graham Hughes/BloombergBreaking business news, incisive views, must-reads and market signals. Weekdays by 9 a.m.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Posthaste will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe CDC linked 1,644 laboratory-confirmed illnesses in five states to Taco Bell restaurants and said the true number of infections is likely higher because many people recover without being tested and it can take up to six weeks to confirm whether a patient is part of a cyclospora outbreak.The agency is investigating other cyclosporiasis illnesses that are unrelated to this outbreak. Michigan has reported the largest number of cases overall, with more than 4,300 illnesses and 102 hospitalizations.The Food and Drug Administration’s traceback investigation identified a single supplier from Mexico that supplied the Taco Bell restaurants where infected people ate. FDA is working directly with the supplier to determine if contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce went to other places. It’s stepped up screening at the border for “products implicated in the outbreak,” according to a statement.The information released by U.S. regulators leaves several key questions unanswered, including the name of the supplier, the precise origin of the infection and the risk of exposure elsewhere. The Washington Post reported that Taylor Farms is a potential source of the contamination.The CDC said not all Taco Bell locations in the outbreak zone received shredded lettuce from the same supplier.Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness marked by prolonged watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Symptoms typically begin about a week after infection and, without treatment, can persist for weeks or longer. No deaths have been reported in the current outbreak.Earlier this week, the Mexican-inspired chain owned by Yum! Brands Inc., said it would remove some ingredients at select restaurants “voluntarily and temporarily” as a precaution, without giving more specifics. Several independent restaurants also pulled lettuce and greens. A Taco Bell restaurant in El Cerrito, California, US, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Yum! Brands Inc. is scheduled to release earnings figures on April 30. Photographer David Paul Morris/Bloomberg Photo by Contributed/BloombergThe outbreak has also hit the shares of the fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen Inc., with the stock declining about 25 per cent this week amid reports that lettuce was the culprit. The company has said that no ingredients in its supply chain have been identified in connection with investigations into cyclospora.The burgeoning outbreak has been difficult for health authorities to track. The disease doesn’t spread from person to person, and it can take as long as two weeks between the time someone ingests tainted food or water and when symptoms appear. Health authorities in Michigan had earlier pointed to contaminated lettuce or salad greens as a potential source.On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration is “closely monitoring” the outbreak and “committed to providing the CDC and FDA the resources that they need.”—With assistance from Michael Hirtzer, Kristina Peterson, Elizabeth Elkin, John Tozzi, Marc Davies and Jason Gale. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.