USA TODAY Network
Taco Bell sign
Taco Bell has an (arguably undeserved) reputation for selling food that’s usually accompanied by a trip to the bathroom shortly after you consume it. However, some locations are going out of their way to make sure customers don’t have to rush to the toilet in connection with a parasite that has become a cause of concern over the past couple of months.
As far as I’m concerned, Taco Bell is to Mexican food what Domino’s is to pizza; neither of those chains can hold a candle to the best-of-the-best in those particular realms, but they have mastered the art of perfecting guilty pleasures to the point where you occasionally get an itch that only their particular offerings can scratch.
I’m also of the opinion that Taco Bell gets a bit of a bad rap when it comes to what has become a now-exhausting cliché about the impact its food has on your digestive system. It’s long been the butt of jokes concerning where that particular part of your body is going to end up after eating some, but I’m convinced people who have to apologize to their toilet after going there have never encountered fiber outside of those orders.
Hundreds of people across the United States have gotten very familiar with the porcelain throne due to a parasite that’s garnered plenty of attention over one of its most noteworthy side effects, and some Taco Bell outposts have decided to take some steps to minimize the chance of spreading it.
Certain Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan have stopped offering certain items that may be linked to a parasite that causes explosive diarrhea
On July 1st, the CDC issued a warning due to an uptick in cases linked to cyclosporiasis caused by a parasite known as Cyclospora, as close to 150 people in 17 states had been diagnosed with the intestinal infection that is manifested via symptoms including nausea, cramping, vomiting, and (most commonly) explosive diarrhea.
The number of cases has skyrocketed since those numbers were tabulated in the middle of June, and Michigan has been hit particularly hard as experts attempt to figure out what has been responsible for the more than 1,200 cases it has identified in recent weeks.
The most common source of cyclosporiasis is fresh produce that’s been contaminated by the parasite that causes it, but officials have not been able to identify a likely culprit. According to WWJ, some Taco Bells in the state have decided to err on the side of caution, as the outlet reports an unspecified number of restaurants in the Detroit area posted a notice that reads:
“We are currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro, Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall.
We apologize for the inconvenience. Any items ordered that normally come with these items WILL NOT contain them.”
It’s unclear if Taco Bell locations in other states have also been forced to make those changes, but this could impact them (as well as other restaurant chains) in the near future if the cyclosporiasis numbers keep trending in the direction they have been.