CDC and FDA link lettuce at Taco Bell in five states to cyclospora outbreak

FDA investigation identified a single supplier of the lettuce, but federal warnings did not name the company Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served by Taco Bell locations across five US states as a source of the widespread outbreak of the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the source late on Thursday and warned consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The California-based company Taylor Farms is preparing to recall ingredients linked to the widening cyclospora outbreak, Bloomberg News reported, citing a document viewed by the outlet. Cyclospora can cause severe diarrhea, fatigue and nausea, with symptoms lasting as long as a month. Taylor Fresh Foods said on Friday that none of its branded salads are associated with the outbreak – but it was withdrawing its distribution of lettuce from the region. “While the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm, which represents less than 1% of the US’s iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source of the outbreak, we have removed all iceberg lettu