Taco Bell customer visits drop 31% after Cyclospora parasite outbreak linked to lettuce — Report | Today’s news
Taco Bell has seen a sharp drop in customer traffic after an outbreak of the Cyclospora parasite linked to contaminated lettuce raised food safety concerns across the United States. Customer visits to Taco Bell restaurants on July 17 were about 31% below the chain’s average Friday traffic for the year, according to location analytics company Placer.ai, as cited by Forbes.
The drop came after health authorities linked the multi-state Cyclospora outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce.
The outbreak investigation has now expanded to Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, in addition to Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Nearly 1,950 confirmed illnesses have been directly linked to the contaminated lettuce, with at least 98 hospitalizations reported. No deaths were reported.
Taco Bell’s answer
As concerns about contaminated products spread, Taco Bell removed the affected lettuce from its U.S. restaurants and introduced non-salad menu options, including a promotional $1 Enchirito, to help limit the impact on sales.
The outbreak also affected parent company Yum! Brands, whose shares have fallen about 6% since Taco Bell first announced precautionary menu changes on July 14 before federal investigators officially linked illnesses to its lettuce supply.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed more than 4,100 laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections nationwide as of May 1 and is investigating more than 7,400 additional probable cases in 41 states.
Taylor Farms has recalled iceberg lettuce originating in central Mexico and has suspended procurement from the region. Taco Bell has removed the affected salad from all of its US restaurants as a precaution. But the FDA says investigators are still looking into whether other products, restaurants or distribution channels may be involved.
Michigan bears the brunt
Michigan has become the most affected state, reporting more than 8,100 cases. Local and state health departments say they are struggling to investigate the outbreak due to staff shortages and reduced federal funding. Officials redeployed staff from other public health programs and recruited volunteers to conduct the lengthy patient interviews needed to trace the source of the infections.
What is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that spreads when food or water is contaminated with human feces. Fresh produce, especially leafy greens irrigated or washed with contaminated water, are among the most common sources. The infection causes an intestinal illness characterized by frequent and sometimes explosive diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
Unlike many bacterial foodborne illnesses, Cyclospora cannot be traced using advanced laboratory fingerprinting, forcing investigators to rely on detailed interviews that can take up to 45 minutes with each patient.
The investigation continues
Although FDA investigators continue to focus on Taylor Farms lettuce from central Mexico, Mexican health authorities said tests conducted on lettuce and water samples taken from the company’s Guanajuato facility did not detect the parasite.
Meanwhile, the FDA has also launched a separate investigation into another Cyclospora outbreak involving at least 72 illnesses, the source of which has not yet been identified. Federal officials caution that the investigation is ongoing and that other brands, restaurants or retailers could eventually be linked to the outbreak.
