Taco Bell Knew About Parasite Weeks Before Formal Action: Report

Health officials in Michigan were in contact with the parent company of California-based Taco Bell about the sweeping Cyclospora outbreak that sickened thousands weeks before the company formally alerted consumers, according to a Bloomberg story published this week by multiple news outlets.

Parasitic illness cases in 15 states have been linked to iceberg lettuce, U.S. health authorities said Wednesday. Investigators initially narrowed in on lettuce served at Taco Bell, with federal officials subsequently saying they were focused on Taylor Farms as the source of the lettuce in the outbreak, with that company recalling iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico.

Cyclospora is a microscopic, spherical parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Michigan alone has reported more than 12,000 illnesses, including two deaths. Adding in the other states that have reported cases, the national total stands at over 25,000.

Taco Bell Timeline

Michigan’s health and human services department had a call with Taco Bell parent company Yum! Brands Inc. on July 2 about the parasite, Bloomberg reported, citing documents obtained through a public records request. A follow-up email from officials sought a connection with the company’s communications and supply chain quality assurance teams to discuss potential intervention or notification that week to help reduce future cases, according to Bloomberg.

Taco Bell, which is headquartered in Irvine, had already received a media query about some Michigan restaurants at that point, Bloomberg reported, adding that days later, state officials reiterated a previous request to the company for documents, saying information was required promptly in the interest of public health.

July 7 media coverage of signs on some Michigan Taco Bell locations regarding an ingredient recall made Taco Bell the face of the outbreak, although no such recall had been announced at that time, according to Bloomberg.

It wasn’t until July 14 that Taco Bell verified it had removed ingredients at certain restaurants as a precaution, but the chain also said authorities hadn’t confirmed a connection to Taco Bell or an ingredient or supplier, Bloomberg reported.

Then, on July 17, federal authorities linked Taco Bell to the outbreak, advising customers to avoid shredded lettuce at restaurants in five states, according to Bloomberg, which added that Taco Bell pulled the affected lettuce from Taylor Farms.

Taco Bell, in a statement, told Bloomberg on Monday that it “moved swiftly to voluntarily remove potentially impacted ingredients” and acted “out of an abundance of caution.” Also Monday, Michigan’s health department told the outlet in a statement that dining at Taco Bell was “commonly, although not exclusively, identified” as the outbreak was investigated.

Latest On The Outbreak

According to the CDC, the number of states tied to the outbreak has grown from nine to 15. Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Carolina were added to a list that previously included Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it is tracking five separate ongoing Cyclospora outbreaks. The 15-state outbreak is by far the largest. No products have been linked to the other outbreaks, including one that has sickened 115 people.

The California Department of Public Health has reported 41 provisional cases since the start of the year in the state.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.