Taco Bell Pulls Some Ingredients as CDC Investigates Cyclospora Outbreak

Taco Bell says it has “voluntarily and temporarily” removed certain ingredients from menus at select restaurants as a precaution while the CDC investigates a multistate cyclospora outbreak. The company did not specify which products were removed or which restaurants were affected. Taco Bell said the move is precautionary, and health officials have not confirmed a link between the parasite and Taco Bell, any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant, or retailer.

Business Insider reported that social media posts from customers at some Midwest Taco Bell locations indicated that lettuce, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, and mixtures such as guacamole and pico de gallo were temporarily unavailable. Those reports do not establish which ingredients Taco Bell officially removed, but they show how precautionary food-safety steps can quickly affect local menus. Customers should expect availability to vary by restaurant while the broader public health review continues.

Cases have been reported in 31 states since May 1 and are suspected of being linked to contaminated fresh produce, particularly leafy greens and herbs. The CDC’s current guidance advises consumers to thoroughly wash produce before eating it. Business Insider reported that the guidance also notes there is no guaranteed way to avoid cyclospora because it is often impossible to know whether fresh produce was contaminated.

Cyclosporiasis is caused by exposure to the microscopic Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite. Symptoms can include prolonged watery diarrhea, fatigue, stomach cramps, and other gastrointestinal issues. The illness is treatable with antibiotics, but Business Insider reported it can last for weeks without treatment.