Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Tied to Taco Bell Lettuce
What the CDC announced
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that shredded iceberg lettuce from a single Mexican supplier reached Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, and urged people in those states not to eat the salad.
Supplier and distributor details
The Mexican supplier has not been named in the public warning. Federal officials told The New York Times that the lettuce was distributed in the United States by Taylor Farms of Salinas, California, though it is unclear whether the product was sent to other food vendors.
FDA response
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it is working directly with the identified supplier to determine if contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market, and noted that Taco Bell has pledged to stop using lettuce from that supplier.
Scope of the illness
Number of cases
More than 1,644 people across five states reported getting sick after eating at Taco Bell locations, according to the latest CDC announcement.
Geographic reach
The affected states are Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. While over 30 states have reported cyclosporiasis cases this year, not all of those are linked to the current outbreak.
Other affected chains
Wendy’s and Chipotle have said they are not part of the outbreak, and no official reports of cyclosporiasis have emerged from Mexico.
Background on Cyclosporiasis
What the parasite does
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes watery diarrhea, often with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements, and it thrives in warm weather, leading to peaks in late spring and summer.
How infection occurs
The organism spreads through feces and can contaminate produce irrigated with water that contains the parasite, meaning fruits and vegetables are common sources of infection.
Historical trends
While cyclosporiasis has been less common than illnesses like salmonella and E. coli, cases have risen over the past decade, with notable spikes in 2018 and 2019.
Canadian Cases Compared
Quebec
Quebec reported 107 cyclosporiasis cases since July 11, with 30 of those occurring in the same period of 2025; health officials said the numbers are far lower than the Michigan outbreak and most are linked to travel, especially to Mexico.
British Columbia
British Columbia recorded 93 cases this year, the health authority noted, adding that the majority are travel‑related and that the province sees typical seasonal increases.
Alberta, Manitoba and Other Provinces
Alberta confirmed six cases, mainly among people who traveled to Mexico. Manitoba reported one case under investigation, while Yukon did not respond to inquiries. Nunavut confirmed five laboratory‑verified cases. No cases have been reported in the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan or Prince Edward Island.
Overall Canadian outlook
Health officials in Canada consider the current case counts “typical” for the season, though they are monitoring the situation closely given the U.S. outbreak. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it will not impose import restrictions on fresh produce from the United States.
