Overview
- Federal agencies said Friday that shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia was linked by traceback to a supplier in central Mexico.
- Taylor Farms voluntarily removed and recalled iceberg lettuce distributed to 27 states and has suspended shipments from the implicated lot while customers such as Taco Bell, Sysco and some retailers pulled affected products.
- Confirmed federal case counts show about 1,600 infections across 34 states but state reports, led by Michigan with more than 5,000 cases, indicate the outbreak is far larger and reporting is still catching up.
- Cyclospora causes prolonged watery and sometimes 'explosive' diarrhea, requires specific stool testing for diagnosis, and is treated with a 10-day course of trimethoprim‑sulfamethoxazole; people with persistent diarrhea after recent produce exposure should seek care.
- Investigators warn the probe remains active and difficult because Cyclospora must mature in the environment before it becomes infectious, tracebacks rely on complex supply chains, and additional brands, restaurants or retailers could be implicated as testing continues.