Thousands Ill from Salad at Popular Chain – Report
A major cyclosporiasis outbreak in the US has sickened over 1,947 people, with nearly 100 hospitalized. The suspected source is iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell. The CDC advised residents of five states to avoid this dish. The investigation continues, and the company has recalled the ingredient.
The United States is facing a large-scale cyclosporiasis outbreak spanning nine states. According to WHO data, the number of cases has exceeded 1,947, with nearly 100 hospitalizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning for residents of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, advising them to avoid shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants. Initially, the FDA identified Taylor Farms as the supplier but later retracted that conclusion due to false positive tests. Former FDA deputy commissioner Frank Yiannas criticized the regulators' actions as ineffective. Among the affected is Ella-Salone Jones, a kidney failure patient whose medical bills reached $100,000. On July 16, Taco Bell announced a voluntary recall of the salad and removed it from the supply chain pending replacement.