FDA Investigates Lettuce Supplier in Taco Bell Outbreak

A US food safety investigation into a diarrhoea outbreak affecting thousands of people has focused on a lettuce supplier to the fast-food chain Taco Bell.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking into Taylor Farms, which has been linked to outbreaks of the cyclosporiasis parasite in the past.

Almost 7,000 people across the US have fallen ill, with hundreds of cases reported in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky.

Investigation Underway

The FDA investigation centres on the Midwestern states, but it is unclear if Taylor Farms is responsible for other outbreaks across the US.

Taco Bell has voluntarily removed some ingredients from its menu as a precaution, but the company says no source for the outbreak has been confirmed.

Taylor Farms has faced similar issues in the past, including a 2013 outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to its salad mix, and a 2024 E. coli outbreak tied to onions supplied to McDonald’s.