Taco Bell has issued an apology through its notes app, urging customers to return after a cyclospora outbreak was linked to its lettuce supply. The Tex-Mex chain stated that all affected Taylor Farms lettuce has been removed from its stores.
Roughly 1,644 people have reportedly fallen ill with cyclospora, with symptoms including severe diarrhea. The FBI had been investigating Taco Bell locations in Michigan, as customers reported becoming sick after consuming iceberg lettuce in their food. The chain reportedly removed the lettuce from sale prior to any national recall.
Health officials analyzed 190 cases in Michigan, finding a strong link to Taco Bell. An Associated Press report alleged that Taylor Farms was the source of the contaminated lettuce, which in turn blamed one of its independent suppliers. Taylor Farms stated that no Taylor Farms-branded salads or kits were found to be contaminated, but all iceberg lettuce is being discarded.
"As a family owned and operated company, we are deeply concerned for those who became ill, their families, and the many Americans whose trust in the safety of their fresh produce has been shaken," Taylor Farms said in its own notes app-style statement. "That trust is something we’ve worked for decades to earn, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to restore that confidence."
The FDA continues to advise caution for consumers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia, and the investigation into the full extent of the outbreak is ongoing. Despite the advisories, some customers expressed a willingness to continue patronizing Taco Bell, with one individual stating on X, "Explosive Diarrhea has never stopped me from enjoying Taco Bell before. It won’t start now."