Officials are examining whether Taco Bell may be entangled in a widening outbreak of a parasitic gastrointestinal illness linked to contaminated produce, according to a new report.
Two sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post that investigators are probing the chain’s possible connection to cyclosporiasis, an illness known to cause “explosive diarrhea.”
Signs posted at several Taco Bell locations in Michigan last week warned customers that the restaurants were “currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall.”
The company’s decision to pull certain fresh ingredients was a prudent safeguard, one person familiar with the inquiry said. While some infected individuals reported eating at Taco Bell, others had not — an indication that the outbreak is not confined to the chain.
Since May 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 843 cases of cyclosporiasis, leading to 86 hospitalizations and no reported deaths. Federal officials caution, however, that the true number of infections is likely far higher.
The Independent has contacted a representative for Taco Bell for comment.
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