Washington DC [US], July 15 : The Federal and state health authorities in the United States are investigating whether Taco Bell restaurants are connected to a large multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic gastrointestinal illness that has sickened thousands of people, The Washington Post reported, citing individuals familiar with the investigation.
According to The Washington Post, the individuals who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the probe is ongoing said investigators are examining whether fresh produce served at Taco Bell may have contributed to the outbreak.
However, officials have not identified a single source, and multiple food items remain under investigation.
According to The Washington Post, citing some media reports, notices displayed at several Taco Bell outlets in the Detroit area last week informed customers that the restaurants had temporarily stopped serving lettuce, cilantro, onions, pico de gallo and guacamole due to what was described as a nationwide recall.
Taco Bell has not publicly commented on the matter or responded to multiple requests for comment.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which is investigating the state's outbreak, said on Monday that interviews with more than 1,000 patients identified leafy lettuce as the leading suspected source of infection.
"While the investigation is ongoing, current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for this outbreak, although other food items cannot be completely ruled out," the department said in a statement, as quoted by The Washington Post.
Michigan Chief Medical Executive Natasha Bagdasarian said the findings are preliminary but indicate that lettuce has consistently emerged during the investigation.
"Although we do not have a definite product identified as the source of the outbreak, we want to let Michiganders know what we have learned so far so they can take steps to protect their families," Bagdasarian said in a statement, as quoted by The Washington Post.
"Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation," she added.
According to one person familiar with the national investigation, Taco Bell's decision to voluntarily remove several fresh ingredients from some of its restaurants was an appropriate precaution while the investigation continues.
The individual said some infected patients reported eating at Taco Bell before falling ill, while others had no connection to the restaurant chain, suggesting the outbreak extends beyond a single food service provider.
Health officials have reported that more than 80 people have been hospitalised in the outbreak, while cases have been identified in more than 30 US states. Michigan has recorded more than 2,600 infections, significantly higher than its usual annual total of 40 to 50 cases, as reported by The Washington Post.
According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Cyclospora is a parasite that infects the intestines and commonly causes watery diarrhoea, frequent bowel movements and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
The parasite is typically contracted through contaminated food or water and is not transmitted from person to person. Some infected individuals may not develop symptoms.
Public health authorities said tracing Cyclospora outbreaks is particularly challenging because symptoms often appear days after exposure, making it difficult for patients to accurately recall what they consumed.
Officials also noted that many infections may go unreported because some people recover without seeking medical attention or undergoing laboratory testing.
The CDC said cyclosporiasis cases occur throughout the year but are most common between May and August in the United States. Previous outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce, including basil, raspberries, salad mixes, cilantro and snow peas.