Chicago Man Recovers After Taco Bell Meal Sends Him to Hospital
Symptoms and Hospital Visit
Alonso Zaragoza, a 46‑year‑old resident of Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood, fell ill with severe diarrhea, vomiting and fever after a weekend visit to a fast‑food restaurant.
He told local news that his symptoms worsened over the July 11‑12 period, leaving him with little sleep and frequent trips to the bathroom.
On Wednesday he went to Northwestern Hospital after noticing blood in his stool, prompting doctors to take blood and stool samples.
Diagnosis and Confirmation
Medical tests confirmed that Zaragoza was infected with Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that causes a diarrheal illness.
He spent several days in the hospital receiving an IV and monitoring before being discharged.
What He Ate
Zaragoza said the only lettuce he consumed was in a chalupa from Taco Bell’s “luxury box.”
He checked the ingredient list on the restaurant’s app and saw iceberg lettuce, which he later linked to his illness.
Public Health Investigation
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that 34 states have reported nearly 1,700 confirmed cases of Cyclospora, with about 5,100 additional probable cases nationwide.
Health officials traced the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by a single Mexican grower used by multiple Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
Taylor Farms, the lettuce distributor, announced it would pull all Mexican iceberg lettuce from the U.S. market pending further testing.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration initially reported a positive Cyclospora test on Taylor Farms lettuce, but later clarified that the result was a false positive.
In response, Taco Bell voluntarily removed the affected lettuce from its restaurants and eliminated the ingredient from its supply chain across the country.
Aftermath
Zaragoza posted on Facebook that he endured four sleepless days, chills, fever, vomiting, weight loss and a midnight emergency‑room visit.
He hopes his experience will raise awareness about food safety and the potential risks of contaminated produce.
