Arby's touts it has the meats, not the leafy greens, amid outbreak
Amid growing concerns about food safety during the ongoing cyclosproriasis outbreak, some fast food restaurants have stopped putting some fresh produce on menu items.
But one chain, Arby's, is positioning itself as a haven from contaminated lettuce by marking its food "safe from leafy greens." Why? Because it has the meats.
Leafy greens such as lettuce, spices such as cilantro and green onions are potential culprits for the cyclospora parasite, which causes the intestinal illness that can bring on "explosive diarrhea." People can become infected by consuming food or water that contains the parasite, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Even though health officials haven't found any cyclospora link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredients, the popular fast food chain has removed ingredients from some stores in what it said was a precautionary move. Meanwhile, Chipotle told USA TODAY the restaurant chain "is monitoring the situation closely."
But Arby's found a flex amid the flare-up. In an Instagram post July 15, the company showed a picture of a Beef & Cheddar Sandwich with the notice "Marked Safe From leafy greens today."
Arby's Angus Cheesesteak Sandwich deal – you get free side dish
On July 16, Arby's found another way to flip the concern about leafy greens to remind consumers its meaty sandwiches are a non-lettuce option. In mid-June, the restaurant chain added Angus Cheesesteak sandwiches to its menu.
"Skipping salads this week? Arby's has you covered," the company said in a news release. The chain announced an Arby's Cheesesteak Happy Hour, daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.
During that time, members of the Arby's Rewards loyalty program can get a free order of medium curly fries, four-piece mozzarella sticks, medium shake or a side of mac and cheese with the purchase of Arby's new cheesesteak. A suggestion given: For your free side dish, choose Arby's White Cheddar Mac & Cheese to put on the cheesesteak sandwich, recreating a dish that's gone viral with some food influencers.
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arby's touts it has the meats, not the leafy greens, amid outbreak
Reporting by Mike Snider, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 5:22 PM.