LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served by Taco Bell locations across five U.S. states as a source of the widespread outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Thursday confirmed the source and warned consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
A Food and Drug Administration investigation identified a single supplier of the lettuce. The federal warnings to consumers did not identify the company.
"FDA is working with the supplier of iceberg lettuce to determine if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market," including in other states, the CDC said. "Taco Bell has committed to stop using any lettuce from the supplier identified by FDA’s traceback investigation."
CDC, FDA and public health officials in several states have been investigating a multistate outbreak of cyclospora infections.
More than 30 states have reported infections this year, and current data from them shows the number of infections surpassing the record U.S. mark of about 4,700 set in 2019. The illness is not usually life threatening and is typically treated with antibiotics.
On Tuesday, ahead of the federal government's confirmation, Taco Bell issued a statement saying it had "voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities."
Cyclospora is a microscopic, spherical parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea "with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements," according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreaks tend to occur most often in the late spring and summer.
The heat-loving parasite infects the bowels and spreads through feces. In the past, people have been infected by consuming fruits or vegetables that were exposed to feces-contaminated irrigation water.
The illness, called cyclosporiasis, is less common than foodborne illnesses caused by other germs, including salmonella and E. coli. Many cases are never linked to a specific food or other source and, for years, few U.S. cyclospora outbreaks were reported. But the number started rising about a decade ago, with a particularly notable spike in 2018 and 2019.
Experts say it’s likely that cyclospora cases historically were underreported, in part because some common tests used to check for food poisoning have not been geared to detect cyclospora. They attribute the increasing trend in cases to climate change and better detection.
Local customers react
Some local Taco Bell customers said they will still go to Taco Bell after the CDCÂ linked its shredded lettuce supplier to the cyclosporiasis outbreak. But several said Friday that they'll avoid the lettuce.
"I just had Taco Bell last night," said Lizzie Perkins, a Taco Bell customer Friday. "But I made sure that they didn't have any lettuce in it because I'm so scared."
Taco Bell announced Thursday it's removing lettuce from its menu after its supplier, Taylor Farms, was connected to the diarrhea-causing parasite across five states, including Kentucky and Indiana. However, cyclosporiasis can take up to two weeks for symptoms to appear.
Perkins' friend, Olivia McGuire, was taking stricter precautions. She hasn't been to Taco Bell in a month.
"Once I saw in my feed the lettuce, I was horrified because I don't want any parasites or anything," McGuire said.
Perkins order didn't have any lettuce on it, but her brother's did.
"The thing that my brother ordered, it had lettuce on it," Perkins said. "He did not touch it, because we're so scared."
Both McGuire and Perkins said it will be hard to avoid Taco Bell.
"Taco Bell's my favorite food ever," Perkins said. "So, when I saw that it was being attacked, I was like 'No!'"
But, they will be more careful about the restaurant's lettuce in the future.
"I'm definitely gonna be more careful," Perkins said.
Marcus Johnson has never tried Taco Bell and he said this outbreak is another reason why he won't try it in the future.
"I think we should stop eating Taco Bell," he said. "I don't eat that. It's making people sick."
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All Rights Reserved.
