Fresh produce shortages and food safety scares can quickly change what shows up on fast-food menus across the United States. This week, some Taco Bell locations pulled several produce items as Cyclospora cases continued rising in multiple states.
Some Taco Bell locations removed 5 ingredients
Some Taco Bell restaurants posted signs saying they stopped serving lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, cilantro and onion on July 9. Taco Bell confirmed ingredient removals at some locations as Cyclospora continued spreading in the United States.
The change affects 5 fresh toppings or add-ons that appear across multiple menu items, from tacos to bowls. The company has not said how many restaurants made the change, and it has not released a nationwide count of affected locations.
It also remains unclear whether any Taco Bell customers have gotten sick. No public statement in the available reports tied confirmed customer illnesses directly to Taco Bell as of July 9.
What is confirmed in states seeing more cases
Health officials have reported higher Cyclospora activity in several states this year, including Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, New York, Texas and Illinois. In Michigan alone, the Department of Health and Human Services said there were almost 1,000 cases since June 22.
That Michigan figure is far above the state’s usual level of about 50 cases, according to state health officials. Other states were described as seeing spikes too, but a full state-by-state count was not provided in the source material.
Taco Bell has not released a full list of affected restaurants in any of those states. It also has not said whether the produce cuts are limited to certain suppliers, markets or regions.
The reason behind the menu cuts
The parasite involved is Cyclospora cayetanensis, which causes cyclosporiasis, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says symptoms can include watery diarrhea and frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements that may last a month or more.
Cyclospora is mostly found in produce, which helps explain why the removed Taco Bell items are all fresh ingredients. The CDC says cases often surge during summer, and this year the outbreak has been more prevalent in some states.
For customers, the immediate impact is simple: some Taco Bell orders may come without 5 common toppings or sides for now. Health officials said people should thoroughly wash fresh produce, kitchen utensils and surfaces, and cook raw produce.
