Reports: Lettuce from Taco Bell supplier linked to cyclosporiasis outbreak

Shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Yum Brands’ Taco Bell restaurants by California-based supplier Taylor Farms has been identified by investigators as a potential source of contamination in the cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands of people in the U.S., the Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing two individuals familiar with the investigation.

While the U.S. has experienced outbreaks of the parasitic intestinal infection before, the scale and geographic spread of this year’s outbreak are significantly larger, prompting concern among health officials.

The outbreak, which began on May 1, has been concentrated in Michigan, with Ohio and New York also reporting a large number of infections. Michigan health officials on Thursday reported 4,312 cases of the parasitic illness.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week it had identified a likely link among cases reported in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, suggesting many of the infections may stem from a common source, according to the report.

The restaurant chain said on Thursday it had removed lettuce from the supplier.

“Based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell has taken immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states,” Taco Bell said in a statement.

“The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states.” Taco Bell added.

Taco Bell did not name the supplier or say which states it had removed the ingredient from.

The chain said earlier this week it had removed a limited number of ingredients from some restaurants as a precautionary measure.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Separately, Bloomberg News reported that the U.S. FDA is expected to soon advise consumers to avoid shredded lettuce at Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana.

Cyclosporiasis can be contracted by consuming food, typically raw fruits and vegetables or water contaminated with feces, and causes diarrhea, nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published July 16, 2026 at 7:27 PM.