https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cyclospo...-5-states-linked-cyclospora-outbreak-says-fda
Iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell in 5 states linked to Cyclospora outbreak, says FDA
Meghan Holohan
Today at 12:58 p.m.
Cyclospora
Michigan officials assessed 190 of the food exposures from Taco Bell and informed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of their results. The vast majority of the people, 90%, admitted to eating iceberg lettuce from one of the restaurants. The CDC used data from 1,644 people who had cyclosporiasis from May 13, 2026, to July 13, 2026, and visited a Taco Bell to pinpoint the source of the outbreak.
Cases top 5,000 in Michigan
The FDA discovered that the lettuce came from one supplier in Mexico and it is working with the company to determine if any contaminated lettuce remains on the market. The FDA also noted that Taco Bell agreed to pull lettuce from that supplier from its restaurants.
While the FDA confirmed the shredded lettuce has been distributed in these five states, it is possible the lettuce was shipped to other locations, as well. Still, not every Taco Bell in these states received the tainted lettuce.
If we try to avoid all of our exposures that could lead to an illness, we’re going to miss tremendous opportunities to enrich our diets and contribute to our overall health
Craig Hedberg, PhD
The New York Times is reporting that Taylor Farms supplied the lettuce to Taco Bell.
The Cyclospora outbreak hit Michigan and Ohio hard. As of today, officials have confirmed 5,002 cases, with 102 people hospitalized in Michigan, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department reports 1,409 cases in northwest Ohio and 750 in Lucas County. These numbers far surpass the number of cases of cyclosporiasis in previous years.
The CDC reports 1,644 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis nationwide, with 94 hospitalizations. The difference in numbers can be attributed to a lag in reporting from the states to the federal level.
What you should do
People should skip the shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bells in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
People who have symptoms of cyclosporiasis, such as watery diarrhea, fatigue, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and bloating, should visit a doctor for testing to determine if they have cyclosporiasis and to receive care. There’s typically a one- to two-week delay between eating food contaminated with Cyclospora and developing symptoms.
“There are antibiotic treatments for Cyclospora,” said Craig Hedberg, PhD, professor of environmental health sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. “That can be an important way of limiting the duration of the illness.”
People who test positive for cyclosporiasis are added to the official numbers and should assist with the ongoing investigation if asked.
“Those interviews do take some time, but again that’s the information we need,” said Hedberg.
Most produce sold nationwide is safe to eat, so there’s no need for most people to eliminate fresh fruits and vegetables from their meals.
“If we try to avoid all of our exposures that could lead to an illness, we’re going to miss tremendous opportunities to enrich our diets and contribute to our overall health,” Hedberg added.
Iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell in 5 states linked to Cyclospora outbreak, says FDA
Meghan Holohan
Today at 12:58 p.m.
Cyclospora
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced yesterday that it has narrowed down the source of the five-state Cyclospora outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.Michigan officials assessed 190 of the food exposures from Taco Bell and informed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of their results. The vast majority of the people, 90%, admitted to eating iceberg lettuce from one of the restaurants. The CDC used data from 1,644 people who had cyclosporiasis from May 13, 2026, to July 13, 2026, and visited a Taco Bell to pinpoint the source of the outbreak.
Cases top 5,000 in Michigan
The FDA discovered that the lettuce came from one supplier in Mexico and it is working with the company to determine if any contaminated lettuce remains on the market. The FDA also noted that Taco Bell agreed to pull lettuce from that supplier from its restaurants.
While the FDA confirmed the shredded lettuce has been distributed in these five states, it is possible the lettuce was shipped to other locations, as well. Still, not every Taco Bell in these states received the tainted lettuce.
If we try to avoid all of our exposures that could lead to an illness, we’re going to miss tremendous opportunities to enrich our diets and contribute to our overall health
Craig Hedberg, PhD
The New York Times is reporting that Taylor Farms supplied the lettuce to Taco Bell.
The Cyclospora outbreak hit Michigan and Ohio hard. As of today, officials have confirmed 5,002 cases, with 102 people hospitalized in Michigan, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department reports 1,409 cases in northwest Ohio and 750 in Lucas County. These numbers far surpass the number of cases of cyclosporiasis in previous years.
The CDC reports 1,644 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis nationwide, with 94 hospitalizations. The difference in numbers can be attributed to a lag in reporting from the states to the federal level.
What you should do
People should skip the shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bells in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
People who have symptoms of cyclosporiasis, such as watery diarrhea, fatigue, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and bloating, should visit a doctor for testing to determine if they have cyclosporiasis and to receive care. There’s typically a one- to two-week delay between eating food contaminated with Cyclospora and developing symptoms.
“There are antibiotic treatments for Cyclospora,” said Craig Hedberg, PhD, professor of environmental health sciences in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. “That can be an important way of limiting the duration of the illness.”
People who test positive for cyclosporiasis are added to the official numbers and should assist with the ongoing investigation if asked.
“Those interviews do take some time, but again that’s the information we need,” said Hedberg.
Most produce sold nationwide is safe to eat, so there’s no need for most people to eliminate fresh fruits and vegetables from their meals.
“If we try to avoid all of our exposures that could lead to an illness, we’re going to miss tremendous opportunities to enrich our diets and contribute to our overall health,” Hedberg added.