The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says its traceback investigation has linked shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations to a multistate parasite outbreak. In its public statements, the FDA says the investigation points to a single supplier; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 1,644 confirmed Cyclospora infections among people who reported eating at Taco Bell. FDA, CDC and Taco Bell have issued statements as the probe continues.
Taco Bell lettuce cyclosporiasis outbreak
The FDA said its traceback identified a single supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants, and Taco Bell announced it has voluntarily removed potentially impacted lettuce from affected locations as officials investigate. Taco Bell said the ingredient is being removed from its supply chain nationwide as a precaution and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states. Taco Bell provided the company statement to reporters and in corporate channels.
What FDA and Taco Bell say about the lettuce
The FDA described a traceback tying shredded iceberg lettuce to restaurants where people who became ill reported eating before symptom onset; that traceback points to a single supplier, according to the agency. The FDA’s public food-safety pages summarize the agency’s role in shipment tracing and coordination with state partners. FDA
Taco Bell told customers and public health officials it has taken immediate action “out of an abundance of caution” by removing the potentially impacted ingredient in select states and taking steps to replace it quickly while the investigation continues. The company said it will keep the ingredient out of its national supply chain until officials complete their review. Taco Bell
Scope of the outbreak and CDC data
The CDC reports 1,644 confirmed illnesses among people who reported eating at Taco Bell; 94 people have been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported so far. The agency says the illness onset window for cases tied to this outbreak runs from May 13 to July 13, 2026, and cautions the true number of sick people is likely higher because some cases are not yet reported or confirmed by lab testing. CDC
How Cyclospora spreads and symptoms to watch for
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis when people ingest food or water contaminated with its microscopic oocysts. Contamination often occurs during growing, harvesting, processing or handling of fresh produce. The parasite does not typically spread directly person-to-person in a household setting; infection generally follows ingestion of contaminated items.
Common symptoms include prolonged watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue and loss of appetite. Symptoms can appear several days to up to two weeks after exposure. The CDC advises people with prolonged or severe diarrhea, dehydration, or other concerning symptoms to contact a healthcare provider and seek testing. CDC
Unconfirmed supplier reports and investigation status
Media reporting has named a potential supplier, but federal agencies have not publicly confirmed a business name. The Washington Post and other outlets have reported that investigators identified Taylor Farms in the traceback, but the FDA’s public notices and Taco Bell statements do not name the supplier. Until a federal agency formally names and confirms a source, those media reports should be treated as unconfirmed allegations. The FDA continues to review records and test results as part of its traceback and inspection activities. FDA
What customers and Taco Bell locations should know now
Taco Bell said the affected shredded lettuce will be replaced within 24 hours in select states and is being removed from the national supply chain while the agencies continue investigating. The company operates more than 8,700 U.S. restaurants and serves tens of millions of customers weekly, so the temporary change affects distribution and service logistics across many locations.
Customers who ate at Taco Bell and later developed gastrointestinal symptoms fitting the illness window (May 13–July 13, 2026) should contact a healthcare provider and mention possible Cyclospora exposure. Local and state health departments, together with the CDC and FDA, are coordinating the public-health response and will issue updates as new information or confirmations become available.
What comes next
Federal agencies say traceback, laboratory testing and review of supplier records are ongoing. The FDA and CDC will update public notices if new evidence confirms a specific supplier or links additional products or distribution chains to the outbreak. Taco Bell says it will follow public-health guidance and keep customers informed about ingredient changes.
Source attribution: Official statements and public notices from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), outbreak data and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and company statements from Taco Bell. Media reporting cited for background: Fox Business coverage of agency and company announcements.
This story is developing. The CDC and FDA pages linked above will be updated if new case counts, hospitalizations or confirmations appear; case counts in this article reflect the latest agency reports at time of publication.
