Taco Bell Pulls Fresh Ingredients as Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens Nearly 1,900

Wash Thoroughly: Rinse all fresh produce under clean running water.
Scrub Firm Items: Use a produce brush on melons and cucumbers.
Cook When Possible: Heating produce to 158°F kills the parasite.

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Health officials are on high alert as a massive Cyclospora outbreak continues to spread across the United States. Nearly 1,900 people have fallen ill, leading major food chains like Taco Bell to take immediate action.

Precautionary Steps at Taco Bell

As a safety measure, select Taco Bell locations: primarily in Michigan and the Metro Detroit area: have pulled several fresh ingredients from their menus. Customers may notice that lettuce, cilantro, pico de gallo, guacamole, and onions are temporarily unavailable.

While Taco Bell has not been identified as the source of the outbreak, the company is responding to a nationwide produce recall to protect its customers.

Michigan: The Outbreak’s Epicenter

Michigan has reported the highest case count in the nation, with over 1,251 confirmed cases and at least 44 hospitalizations. Health departments in Southeast Michigan, including Wayne and Washtenaw counties, are working closely with the CDC to trace the contamination.

Understanding Cyclospora

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis. It is typically spread through fresh produce contaminated with human feces. If you have consumed fresh vegetables recently, watch for these symptoms: