When you’re craving a Supreme Chalupa and an ice-cold Mountain Dew Baja Blast, Taco Bell is usually the obvious destination.
A federal health investigation is not.
Yet that’s where the fast-food chain finds itself after state and federal officials began examining a possible connection between a recent outbreak of cyclossporiasis and food served at some Taco Bell locations.
According to multiple reports, investigators are working to determine whether a growing number of illnesses are linked to ingredients used by the restaurant chain. While health officials have not identified a definitive source, Michigan has emerged as a major focus of the investigation.
Fox Business reported that cases of cyclosporiasis have been increasing, with a Taco Bell location in the Detroit area drawing particular attention as investigators attempt to trace the outbreak.
Taco Bell has emphasized that no direct link has been established.
“The health and safety of our guests is our top priority,” the company said in a statement to Fox Business. “Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer. While authorities continue their broader review, Taco Bell has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities.”
That precaution appears to have surprised some customers, particularly after certain menu items were suddenly prepared without ingredients such as lettuce.
The timing now appears to coincide with the ongoing investigation.
On Monday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued a public advisory outlining what investigators have learned so far.
According to the department, lettuce and salad greens have emerged as the leading suspected source of the outbreak, although officials stressed that the investigation remains ongoing.
“While the investigation is ongoing, current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for this outbreak, although other food items cannot be completely ruled out,” the department said. “No specific type of produce, grower or supplier has been identified as the source.”
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said health officials wanted residents to understand what investigators had uncovered even before a specific product had been identified.
“Although we do not have a definite product identified as the source of the outbreak, we want to let Michiganders know what we have learned so far so they can take steps to protect their families,” she said.
Bagdasarian added that lettuce has consistently appeared during investigators’ interviews with patients.
“Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation. We will continue to provide updates as we learn more.”
Although the Michigan health department did not specifically identify Taco Bell in its public advisory, the New York Post reported that the state is being treated as the center of the outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite Cyclospora, which infects the intestinal tract.
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the illness commonly causes watery diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. People typically become infected after consuming food or beverages contaminated with the parasite.
One challenge facing investigators is the disease’s unusually long incubation period.
Symptoms often do not appear for up to two weeks after exposure, making it considerably more difficult for patients to remember exactly what they ate and for investigators to identify a common source.
Health officials also noted that, unlike many other illnesses, contaminated recreational water is not believed to be the primary means of transmission in this outbreak. Instead, the evidence continues to point toward contaminated food products.
While the investigation continues, the state is encouraging consumers to take additional precautions when handling leafy greens.
Officials recommend purchasing whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-packaged bagged lettuce whenever possible. Consumers are advised to discard the outer two or three leaves before thoroughly washing the remaining lettuce under clean running water.
For those able to do so, the department says cooking leafy greens to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit provides the greatest level of protection.
The agency also included one caution that underscores why outbreaks involving Cyclospora can be particularly difficult to prevent.
“The parasite is resistant to routine chemical disinfection,” the department noted, adding that washing produce by itself cannot guarantee its complete removal.
For now, investigators continue working to identify the precise source of the contamination. Until that determination is made, health officials say both consumers and restaurants should remain vigilant, while Taco Bell’s temporary ingredient changes are likely to remain in place at affected locations as the investigation moves forward.
