Taylor Farms, which supplies shredded iceberg lettuce to Taco Bell, has been identified as a possible source of contamination in the cyclosporiasis outbreak that causes episodes of explosive diarrhea, according to a new report.
The Washington Post reported on the potential link to Taylor Farms Thursday, citing two individuals familiar with the investigation into the outbreak.
“The signal we have gotten is that there is a very high percentage of people who got sick at Taco Bell, and when investigators asked what their menu items were in common, lettuce came up frequently,” one of the sources said.
On Wednesday, Taco Bell released a statement confirming that it has “voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure” amid the outbreak.
“Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer,” the Mexican fast food joint said. “We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities.”
Taylor Farms describes itself as the leading global producer of salads with facilities across the U.S.
The Independent has reached out to Taylor Farms and Taco Bell for comment.
There have been nearly 7,000 cases of cyclosporiasis since the start of May, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracking 1,645 confirmed reports and more than 5,100 cases that require further analysis.
As of Monday, cases have been reported in 34 states, with Michigan and New York being hit the hardest.
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite from food or water contaminated with feces.
People infected by the parasite can get several discomforting symptoms, including cramping and nausea, but what has captured the most attention is the possibility of explosive diarrhea.
Without a confirmed source of the outbreak, Americans are avoiding eating fruits and vegetables over fears of being stuck on the toilet on a family vacation or a trip to the beach.
Officials in Michigan, which has seen the highest number of cases, said earlier this week that lettuce may be the culprit.
“Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive, said in a statement.
Michigan has seen more than 4,300 cases, including about 100 that have resulted in hospitalization, according to state officials.
Local news radio station WWJ reported earlier this month that several Taco Bell locations, including in Metro Detroit, put up a sign that read, “We are currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall.”
