WASHINGTON, July 16 (DC Times Online) — Health officials say lettuce or salad greens are the leading suspect in a cyclosporiasis outbreak under investigation in Michigan, but no specific produce brand has been identified and Taco Bell says public health officials have not confirmed a link to the chain.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said in a July 14 press release that current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a possible source, though other foods cannot be ruled out. The department said it has not identified a specific type of produce, grower, supplier or brand.
Taco Bell said in a statement that the health and safety of guests is its top priority and that officials have not confirmed a connection to any ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer. The company said it voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precaution.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had not announced a Taco Bell recall as of the Fox Business report.
Federal and state health officials are also investigating whether Taco Bell restaurants played a role in the outbreak, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Washington Post. Michigan health officials have described the outbreak as the state’s largest parasitic outbreak, and CDC case counts cited in reports put the total at 843 cases across 31 states since May.
