Taco Bell lettuce supplier under investigation in cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting thousands

A parasitic outbreak that began quietly in early May has now spread across the country, sickening thousands and forcing federal investigators to trace the path backward through restaurant supply chains. The culprit appears to be lettuce—specifically iceberg lettuce from a Mexican farm that ends up on Taco Bell tables in at least five states. The Food and Drug Administration has identified Taylor Farms, a major produce supplier based in Salinas, California, as the likely source of the contamination, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

The parasite responsible is cyclospora, a microscopic organism that causes cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness spread when infected feces contaminate food or water. The outbreak has now reached 34 states. The CDC's official count stands at 1,645 confirmed cases with at least 141 people hospitalized, but those numbers lag significantly behind what state health departments are reporting. Michigan alone has documented 4,312 confirmed cases, with 102 requiring hospitalization. The true scope of the outbreak is likely much larger than the federal tally suggests.

Taco Bell responded Thursday by voluntarily removing the affected lettuce from its supply chain nationwide, pledging to replace it within 24 hours in the states where the contamination was detected. The company issued a statement saying it had taken "immediate action" based on "ongoing conversations with public health officials." Taylor Farms, which supplies lettuce and other produce to multiple major restaurant chains across the United States, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company describes itself on its website as the "leading global producer of salads and healthy fresh foods," with facilities spanning the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe.

This is not Taylor Farms' first brush with food safety trouble. Last year, the company was linked to an E. coli outbreak traced to onions supplied from one of its Colorado facilities. That incident led McDonald's to stop using onions on Quarter Pounders at some locations. The pattern raises questions about oversight and testing protocols across the produce supply chain, particularly for items sourced from Mexico.

Cyclosporiasis typically develops about a week after infection. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, nausea, and fatigue. The illness can persist anywhere from two days to more than two weeks. Previous outbreaks in the U.S. and Canada have been linked to bagged salad mixes, fresh cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas, and green onions—all items that are difficult to fully decontaminate before consumption.

Dr. Nuwan Gunawardhana, an infectious disease expert at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, told CBS News that cooking food remains the most reliable defense. "The best way to avoid ingesting it is to cook your food," he said. He added that scrubbing or brushing vegetables can help, though the parasite is known to cling stubbornly to surfaces, making even thorough washing an imperfect shield. Public health officials are advising people to wash all fresh produce carefully, though they acknowledge that washing alone may not eliminate the risk entirely.

The FDA investigation is ongoing, and the agency has not yet released a full accounting of how the contamination occurred or whether other suppliers may be involved. For now, Taco Bell customers in the affected states can expect their salads and lettuce-containing items to come from different sources. The broader question—how a parasite from Mexico made its way into the American food supply and sickened thousands before being detected—remains under investigation.