Taco Bell is taking a more aggressive approach to protecting against cyclospora than federal health officials currently recommend, temporarily pulling some ingredients from select restaurants while the CDC investigates a multistate outbreak.
The fast-food chain told Business Insider on Tuesday it has "voluntarily and temporarily" removed certain ingredients from menus at select restaurants as a precautionary measure given the outbreak of the diarrheal illness.
Taco Bell said the move is precautionary. Health officials have not confirmed a link between the parasite and Taco Bell, any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant, or retailer.
The spokesperson for Taco Bell did not respond to questions about which specific products were removed or which restaurants were affected. Cases have been reported in 31 states since May 1 and are suspected of being linked to contaminated fresh produce, particularly leafy greens and herbs.
Social media posts from customers at some Midwest Taco Bell locations indicate that lettuce, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, and mixtures thereof, such as guacamole and pico de gallo, are temporarily unavailable.
The move goes a step beyond current CDC guidance, which advises consumers to thoroughly wash produce before consumption but adds that there is no guaranteed way to avoid cyclospora because it's often impossible to know whether fresh produce was contaminated.
"The health and safety of our guests is our top priority," a Taco Bell spokesperson said in a statement. "While authorities continue their broader review, Taco Bell has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure."
The caution reflects the high stakes for restaurant chains when foodborne illness outbreaks become linked to their brands.
Chipotle spent years recovering after its 2015 E. coli and subsequent food safety crises hammered sales and customer confidence. Taco Bell has also weathered major outbreaks before: In 2006, an E. coli outbreak sickened dozens of people across the Northeast and was ultimately traced to contaminated produce in its supply chain, prompting widespread scrutiny of the brand.
Taco Bell did not say what prompted the precautionary removals beyond the ongoing public health investigation, and federal officials have not publicly identified any restaurant chain as the source of the outbreak. The CDC did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
The latest round of precautions is tied to a CDC investigation into a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an illness caused by exposure to the microscopic Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, which can cause prolonged watery diarrhea, fatigue, stomach cramps, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Business Insider previously reported that public health experts suspect contaminated fresh produce is the cause of the outbreaks because cyclospora is most commonly spread through food or water contaminated with the parasite.
The illness is treatable with antibiotics, but can last for weeks without treatment.
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Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert is a senior reporter on Business Insider's West Coast team. When she's not writing about trending business and tech news, from the latest supply chain snarls or advancements in AI, she covers the food and restaurant industries, specifically companies such as Starbucks and McDonald's.Some of her prior areas of focus have included coverage of the Supreme Court and emerging technologies such as quantum computing.Katherine has worked on award-nominated projects and has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC, CNN, and other outlets to discuss her reporting.Prior to joining Business Insider, she covered retail, hospitality, and nonprofits at the San Fernando Valley Business Journal and received a master's degree in investigative reporting from the University of Southern California.Reach outDo you have feedback or a story tip? Contact Katherine on Signal at byktl.50, or email her at [email protected].Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @scrawlgirl.Some of her recent scoops, exclusives, and original stories include: Starbucks set up a new office. It's a 5-minute drive from the CEO's California home.Inside Starbucks' crackdown on cup notesEndless Shrimp was Red Lobster's rock bottom. Now it's clawing back.Chipotle's new PAC signals a change in how the company engages in politicsKFC lost its footing in the Chicken Wars. Now it's gunning for a 'Kentucky Fried Comeback.'A few other highlights include: Clarence Thomas raised him 'as a son.' Now he's facing 25-plus years on weapons and drug charges.Call her Ivanka Kushner'Maybe I'll just resign:' Federal workers react to DOGE productivity emailSpaceX launches cause late-night booms that rattle windows, set off car alarms, and may damage property. Locals are pushing back.The US-China tech race is moving from chips to the raw materials they're made of
