The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked a parasitic outbreak to Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
The FDA traced the source to a single supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce in Mexico.The Associated Press cited a government source who identified the supplier as Taylor Farms in central Mexico.
Officials said the supplier provided lettuce to the Taco Bell locations nationwide, NPR reported.
The lettuce was contaminated with cyclosporiasis, a parasite that causes watery diarrhea.
Cyclosporiasis is transmitted by food and water contaminated with feces. Contamination occurs when lettuce is packaged at warehouses with poor sanitation standards.
The parasite must sporulate (reproduce) in unfavorable environments for 1-2 weeks before becoming infectious.
Watery diarrhea is the main symptom of cyclosporiasis. Other symptoms are mild and some people report no symptoms at all.
The parasite sickened more than 1,644 people who reported eating at Taco Bell restaurants in five states beginning on May 13.
Officials found that 90% of the people with food poisoning said they ate lettuce at Taco Bell.
Taco Bell issued a statement on July 16 that it took “immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states.” The statement also said the lettuce would be removed from the supply chain nationwide and replaced within 24 hours.