Health officials are tracking a growing surge of cyclospora, a parasitic stomach illness, reported in 31 U.S. states. Nutritionist Marissa Karp provides food safety tips and discusses the unknown source of the outbreak.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that Taco Bell will stop using lettuce from a supplier linked to a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak, as federal health officials investigate more than 1,600 illnesses across five states.
The announcement came after Taco Bell said earlier Thursday that it had voluntarily removed potentially affected lettuce from a supplier in select states where cases have been linked to the outbreak.
“Based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell has taken immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states,” Taco Bell Corp. said in a statement provided to FOX Business.
“The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states,” the statement continued.
TACO BELL INVESTIGATED AS LETTUCE EMERGES AS POSSIBLE SOURCE OF CYCLOSPORIASIS OUTBREAK
The FDA said Taco Bell will stop using lettuce from a supplier linked to a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images / Getty Images)
While the FDA and Taco Bell did not identify the supplier, the agency said its traceback investigation identified a single supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico used by Taco Bell locations where infected customers ate before becoming ill.
The Washington Post reported Thursday that investigators have identified California-based Taylor Farms as a potential supplier of the iceberg lettuce identified in the agency’s traceback investigation as part of the outbreak.
FOX Business has reached out to Taylor Farms for comment.
The FDA said it is investigating cases in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, and advised consumers in those states not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell restaurants.
GENERAL MILLS PULLS MORE THAN 735,000 PILLSBURY ROLLS FROM SHELVES OVER POSSIBLE GLASS CONTAMINATION
Taco Bell removed potentially affected lettuce from a supplier after the FDA linked it to a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), 1,644 people infected with Cyclospora who reported eating at Taco Bell have been reported across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The agency said 94 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
Illnesses tied to the outbreak began between May 13 and July 13, 2026. CDC said the true number of sick people is likely higher and noted that state health departments may report different totals because some include probable cases, while CDC and FDA are reporting laboratory-confirmed cases.
CDC also said it is investigating other cyclosporiasis illnesses nationally that are unrelated to the Taco Bell-linked outbreak.
OBAMACARE EXCHANGE FLAW EXPOSED AMERICANS TO UNEXPECTED HEALTH PLAN SWITCHES, WATCHDOG FINDS
The FDA is investigating a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to lettuce served at certain Taco Bell restaurants. (Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images / Getty Images)
According to the CDC, cyclosporiasis is a parasitic intestinal illness that people can contract by consuming contaminated food or water. Symptoms include prolonged watery diarrhea, nausea and other gastrointestinal illness.
Earlier this week, Taco Bell said it removed a limited number of ingredients from some restaurants as a precautionary measure.
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Taco Bell operates more than 8,700 restaurants worldwide and serves more than 40 million customers each week in the United States, according to the company’s website.
FOX Business’ Kristen Altus and Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy, along with Reuters, contributed to this report.