An outbreak of cyclosporiasis — a diarrhea-causing parasitic illness — within the U.S. has been linked to iceberg lettuce from a Mexican supplier and to several Taco Bell locations across multiple states.
In an announcement Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said shredded lettuce from a single supplier in Mexico was sent to Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, and warned the general public to not eat the green in those parts of the country.
The federal warnings to the general public didn’t discover the Mexican supplier by name.
Two government officials who spoke to the Latest York Times on condition of anonymity also named Taylor Farms in California because the U.S.-based distributor of the lettuce and said it was unclear whether it was sent to other food vendors.
A federal official who was briefed on the investigation and never authorized to debate it also told The Associated Press it was Taylor Farms of Salinas, Calif.
In an announcement Thursday, the united statesFood and Drug Administration (FDA) said it was “working directly with the identified supplier to find out if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce stays available on the market.”
“Taco Bell has committed to stop using any lettuce from the supplier identified by FDA’s traceback investigation,” it added.
In its latest announcement, the CDC said greater than 1,644 people sickened on this outbreak reported eating at Taco Bell locations in five states.
Global News reached out to Taylor Farms and Taco Bell on Friday for comment but didn’t receive a response by publication time.
On Tuesday, ahead of the U.S. confirmation that the outbreak was linked to Taco Bell, the food chain issued an announcement to U.S. media saying it had “voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.”
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Federal health officials also stressed that other “brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels” may very well be identified because the investigation continues.
Wendy’s and Chipotle said Friday that they should not affected by the outbreak, Reuters reported.
Greater than 30 states have reported infections this yr, not all of that are related to the present outbreak. The illness will not be normally life-threatening and typically clears with antibiotics.
There have been no official reports of an outbreak of cyclosporiasis in Mexico.
Cyclospora is a microscopic, spherical parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” based on the CDC. Outbreaks are likely to occur most frequently within the late spring and summer.
The parasite thrives in heat, infects the bowels and spreads through feces. Up to now, people have been infected by consuming fruits or vegetables irrigated with feces-contaminated water.
Cyclosporiasis is less common than foodborne illnesses reminiscent of salmonella and E. coli. Many cases are never linked to a selected food or other source, and for years, few U.S. Cyclospora outbreaks were reported. However the number began rising a couple of decade ago, with a very notable spike in 2018 and 2019.
How do cases in Canada compare?
Multiple Canadian provinces have seen cases of the parasite up to now this yr, though there aren’t any clear links right now to the U.S. outbreak.
There have been 107 cases of cyclosporiasis identified in Quebec since July 11, health officials in that province informed Global News this week — with 30 cases in 2025 for a similar time period — who reiterated that the Quebec cases are “by no means on the identical scale because the outbreak reported within the state of Michigan.”
“As in previous years, the vast majority of Quebec cases can be linked to an exposure that occurred during travel, mainly to Mexico,” health officials said.
“As of today, fewer than five cases have reported travel to the USA,” a spokesperson for Quebec’s Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) said.
In B.C., 93 cases have been reported this yr, with a health official telling Global News that “cases of cyclospora are reported in B.C. yearly” and “most cases are related to travel.”
The degrees are being monitored “closely” given the outbreak within the U.S. but are considered “typical,” a spokesperson for the B.C. Centre for Disease Control said.
B.C. also “sees a rise in non-travel related cyclospora infections as a consequence of eating contaminated, imported raw produce” every spring and summer, the health official stated.
Alberta health officials have confirmed six cyclosporiasis cases within the province this yr to Global News, with one case being reported on Wednesday, and the bulk linked to travel to Mexico.
Global News confirmed that the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Latest Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island have seen no cyclosporiasis cases this yr, based on provincial government health officials.
Two cases were reported to Public Health Ontario in March, officials there said.
Manitoba health officials have also reported one case this yr that’s currently under investigation. Health officials in Yukon didn’t reply to multiple inquiries.
Nunavut health officials confirmed five lab-confirmed cases this yr.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it will not be considering restrictions on fresh produce imports from the U.S.
— with files from The Associated Press and Global News’ Adriana Fallico
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