After more than two months, U.S. health officials have traced a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in five states. The CDC reported that the Taco-Bell linked outbreak led to more than 1,644 confirmed Cyclospora cases in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported that the gastrointestinal illness has sickened 2,640 people in Michigan, and 33 other states are reporting growing outbreaks of illness caused by a tiny, single-celled parasite, the Detroit Free Press reported. While many have been hospitalized, no deaths have been reported.
While Wisconsin has confirmed 61 cases of the illness between May 1 and July 15, 2026, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported that 11 of those cases were acquired domestically and 50 were linked to international travel. Wisconsin health officials have not linked any state cases to the Taco Bell outbreak.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s [FDA] investigation led regulators to a Mexican lettuce supplier that provided iceberg lettuce to the affected locations. While U.S. health officials did not publicly identify the supplier, several media outlets have named California-based Taylor Farms, one of North America’s largest lettuce producers. According to CBS News, the company operates production facilities throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Western Europe – and is a supplier to several major restaurant chains across. the U.S.
Based on the FDA investigation, Taylor Farms said in a statement on July 17, that it is “voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.” The company also reported that no Taylor Farms-branded salads or kits are connected with the outbreak.
Taco Bell changes lettuce; faces legal action
As a precaution, Taco Bell has stopped using the shredded iceberg lettuce linked to the investigation. The company said it voluntarily removed the ingredient from affected locations and has permanently discontinued sourcing the product from that supplier nationwide, according to USA TODAY. The restaurant chain is also facing legal action from an Ohio man who filed a federal lawsuit, alleging he contracted cyclosporiasis after eating at a Taco Bell in North Olmsted, Ohio, three times in June. Symptoms of the parasitic illness can include watery diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and weight loss. The man reported that the illness forced him to miss about two weeks of work.
Federal investigators are now trying to determine whether lettuce from the same supplier was distributed to other foodservice customers.
Health officials from Michigan say that fresh produce, like lettuce, is often linked to outbreaks and advise consumers to opt for whole heads of lettuce versus pre-washed bagged products or salad kits. Growers are also concerned that consumers may avoid purchasing products due to a loss of trust in the industry’s processes.
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Taco Bell lettuce source identified in Cyclospora outbreak
Reporting by Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State Farmer / Wisconsin State Farmer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State Farmer | USA TODAY Network
