Cyclosporiasis Outbreak in US: Taco Bell Lettuce Supplier Identified As Potential Source, Over 6,700 Cases Reported

Federal investigators have identified shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants by Taylor Farms as a potential source of contamination in a growing outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that has sickened thousands of people across the United States, according to The Washington Post, citing two individuals familiar with the investigation.

The development marks one of the clearest indications yet that a common food source may be driving the outbreak, which has been most heavily concentrated in Michigan and has since spread to several other states.

Case Numbers Climbing

As of July 16, Michigan alone had reported more than 4,300 cyclosporiasis cases, with 102 patients hospitalized, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 1,645 cases across 34 states, while local and state health data show at least 6,756 cases across 38 states as of July 15. The agency says the true number is likely higher, citing a reporting lag of up to six weeks between illness onset and case confirmation. Cyclospora Parasite Outbreak in US: Symptoms, Prevention and Food Safety Tips.

The outbreak began in May and has resulted in at least 141 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported.

How Investigators Traced The Source

According to individuals familiar with the CDC's investigation, a high percentage of people who fell ill had eaten at Taco Bell, with lettuce identified as a common item among those affected. Taco Bell reportedly informed the Food and Drug Administration that its lettuce supplier for restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky is Taylor Farms. What Is Cyclosporiasis? Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention as US Outbreak Grows.

The CDC has said it identified a likely link among cyclosporiasis cases across those four states, describing it as the agency's clearest public signal yet that many of the illnesses share a common source.

Michigan health officials had earlier flagged lettuce and salad greens as a potential culprit, based on more than 1,000 interviews with people who tested positive for the parasite.

Taco Bell And Taylor Farms Respond

A Taco Bell spokesperson said the company had voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients from some restaurants as a precaution, while noting that public health officials had not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant, or retailer. The company later said it was removing the supplier's lettuce from its supply chain nationwide.

This is not the first time Taylor Farms has been connected to a cyclosporiasis outbreak. In 2013, a salad mix linked to the company sickened 631 people across 25 states, with many of those illnesses tied to diners at Olive Garden and Red Lobster in Iowa and Nebraska.

Industry Pushes Back On Investigation

The International Fresh Produce Association has criticized how officials are handling the probe. Max Teplitski, the association's chief science officer, said conclusions pointing to produce are based largely on patient recollections that account for, at most, half of the current cases. He noted that Cyclospora has a notoriously complex life cycle, complicating efforts to pin down a single source.

Background On The Illness

Cyclosporiasis is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora and typically spreads through contaminated fresh produce during warm weather. It does not spread from person to person. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, cramping, bloating, loss of appetite, weight loss, and low-grade fever, which can persist for weeks. The illness is not usually life-threatening and is typically treated with antibiotics.

The CDC has faced criticism after scaling down a federal monitoring program that previously required ten participating states to track Cyclospora cases. The Trump administration has said federal tracking of the illness has not stopped as a result of the changes, though some health experts have warned that reduced monitoring requirements could make it harder for investigators to detect and trace future outbreaks.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2026 08:55 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).