Lettuce served at Taco Bell traced to nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak

Public health officials rely on a complex network to track foodborne illness outbreaks. They use patient interviews, lab tests and multi-state data coordination. This exhaustive process recently helped federal agencies identify a massive cyclosporiasis outbreak source.

Investigators zeroed in on field iceberg lettuce from central Mexico. The lettuce was under contract to Midwest Taco Bell locations. The parasitic surge has caused nearly 7,000 confirmed or suspected infections nationwide. Arizona officials reported 19 local cases, but those remain entirely unrelated.

Will Humble, Arizona Public Health Association Executive Director, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the outbreak.