Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell now tied to two deaths in Michigan, CDC confirms
Two people have died and at least 98 have been hospitalized in a Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations across nine states, the CDC says. Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled the lettuce July 17. Both deaths involved underlying health conditions, p
Two people have died and at least 98 have been hospitalized in a multistate Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations, the CDC confirmed this week. Traceback and epidemiologic data identified Taylor Farms de Mexico as the source: shredded iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico and distributed to Taco Bell locations was contaminated with the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. Taylor Farms recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17. Illnesses in this outbreak began June 22 and continued through July 20, with nearly 1,950 confirmed cases reported across nine states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. CDC said this week it is aware of two cyclosporiasis-related deaths in people with underlying health conditions in Michigan, connected to this outbreak. The case shows how a single contaminated produce shipment can move through a national fast-food supply chain and reach customers in nine states before regulators trace it back to its source. CDC says the true number of people sickened is likely higher than reported, since it counts only lab-confirmed cases and testing can take up to six weeks.