Taco Bell is being probed by federal and state health investigators for its potential role in a fast-moving food poisoning outbreak that has sickened thousands across the country, according to a report.
Some victims told investigators they had eaten at Taco Bell – though others said they had not, according to a Washington Post report citing two anonymous sources involved in the government investigations.
Thousands of people across US states including New York have been infected with a parasite called cyclosporiasis, which causes explosive diarrhea, vomiting and bloating among other debilitating symptoms.
The center of the outbreak is in Michigan where some Taco Bell eateries informed customers that they removed several ingredients from their menu last week.
“We are currently unable to sell lettuce, cilantro onion, pico de gallo, and guacamole due to a nationwide recall,” according to signs posted at some of the Michigan Taco Bell locations, according to a WWJ report.
“We apologize for the inconvenience. Any items ordered that normally come with these items WILL NOT contain them.”
Taco Bell said in a statement “The health and safety of our guests is our top priority. Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer. While authorities continue their broader review, Taco Bell has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities.”
Food suppliers and restaurants are always involved in investigations and privy to information before the general public, according to experts.
“Most of the time in these outbreaks, the government and [the food] industry knows way more than we do,” said food poisoning attorney Bill Marler. “Taco Bell is either being proactive or they know something that we don’t know.”
“These reports are an indication that Taco Bell definitely warrants attention,” said Patrick Quade, chief executive and founder of iwaspoisoned.com.
Lee-Ann Jaykus, a professor of food, bioprocessing, and nutrition sciences at North Carolina State University, said the preliminary investigation might have some evidence that Taco Bell’s product is implicated.
“Taco Bell may be saying this out of an abundance of caution but the question is whether they have background information indicating that we may see a recall?”
Cyclosporiasis is typically caused by drinking water containing human feces or raw produce – including lettuce and mixed salad packages, basil, cilantro, rasberries – that come in contact with the infected water.
One victim of the outbreak, Cristy Cooper of Texas, was diagnosed with the parasite after being hospitalized, she told The Post. She’s lost 10 pounds since the onset of her ordeal, which she believes was caused by bagged salad she purchased at a grocery store.
More than 5,100 people across 34 states have potentially been sickened by cyclosporiasis since May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vast majority of the infections are in Michigan, which reported a 1,000 spike over the weekend to 2,640 victims on Monday, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
No recalls related to this outbreak have been conducted, the agency added.
“While the investigation is ongoing, current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for this outbreak, although other food items cannot be completely ruled out,” the Michigan Health Department said in a statement. “No specific type of produce, grower or supplier has been identified as the source.”
The agency declined to address whether it has spoken specifically with Taco Bell, but a spokesperson for agency said, “MDARD continues to work with companies to conduct menu ingredient confirmation and product traceback efforts within the supply chain.”
The website iwaspoisoned.com, which tracks food poisoning incidents and is often an early warning indicator of outbreaks, told The Post that 10 people became ill after eating at a Taco Bell in Tawas City, Michigan at 709 E. Lake St.
The reports were filed on July 11 and one of the victims wrote: “Me and seven men ate here while working for the power company on a night shift and all of us got the same kind of sick nausea liquid diarrhea fever vomiting all of it mine is not gone away I am on like day five.”
