Federal Officials Link Taco Bell Lettuce to Cyclospora Outbreak

Why it matters locally: Iowa is one of the five U.S. states where Taco Bell restaurants received the lettuce linked to the cyclospora outbreak, directly impacting consumers who may have eaten at these locations.

Federal health officials have identified lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants across five U.S. states as a source of an outbreak involving the parasite cyclospora. This produce originated in Mexico. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the link after investigating reported illnesses. Investigators traced the contaminated lettuce to locations in states including Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Cyclospora infection typically causes diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and fatigue. People can contract the parasite by consuming contaminated food or water.