The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell in five states, as it has traced a cyclosporiasis outbreak that causes “explosive diarrhea” back to a supplier.
According to the CDC food safety alert issued on July 17, consumers should “not eat shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.”
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation has identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico that Taco Bell locations used, and where sick people dined. The FDA is working directly with the supplier to determine whether contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce was distributed elsewhere.
The provider was not identified by the agency; however, the New York Times and the Washington Post, citing anonymous federal authorities, identified it as Taylor Farms, a Salinas, California-based producer of lettuce, salad mixes, and other fresh goods.
The CDC has now narrowed its focus to five states
Earlier this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning that an outbreak of a parasite that causes explosive diarrhea and an infection called cyclosporiasis had spread to 17 states. That number then doubled as 34 states reported cases.
Now, the CDC is focusing on at least 1,644 people in five states who have been infected with Cyclospora. These illnesses have been reported from Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Ninety-four people have been hospitalized, and officials have reported no deaths.
An Ohio man claimed this week in a federal lawsuit that he became ill with cyclosporiasis after eating three times at a Taco Bell restaurant in a suburb southwest of Cleveland.
“While no official advisory has been issued, we believe public health is a shared responsibility among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities, and we are proud to have consistently acted quickly and proactively to protect our guests,” Taco Bell said in a statement on July 16. “Taco Bell has taken precautionary action, and we encourage all relevant restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators to do the same.”
Primary symptoms of cyclosporiasis include watery diarrhea, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Symptoms usually begin about one week after becoming infected (ranging from 2 days to 2 weeks or more). Without treatment, symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to a month or longer. If you have symptoms, stay well-hydrated.
Individuals who experience symptoms should contact a medical professional, especially if they ate shredded iceberg lettuce at a Taco Bell restaurant within the two weeks prior to getting sick.