COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – 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 Michigan, According to the Washington Post, citing two individuals familiar with the investigation.
While the U.S. has experienced outbreaks of the parasitic intestinal infection before, the scale and spread of this year’s outbreak are significantly larger, prompting concern among both state and federal health officials.
The outbreak, which began in June, has been concentrated in Michigan, with Ohio and New York also reporting a large number of infections. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services last reported 4,132 cases of the parasitic illness.
Taco Bell said earlier this week it had removed a limited number of ingredients from some restaurants as a precautionary measure, but stressed that U.S. health authorities had not linked the outbreak to the chain, any specific food item or a supplier.
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.
Comments