Health officials say they have identified the likely source of a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands of people.
The intestinal infection, which can cause severe diarrhea, fatigue and other digestive symptoms, has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in five states, officials announced Thursday.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, investigators traced the outbreak to a single lettuce supplier in Mexico. The affected lettuce was used at Taco Bell locations in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia.
Officials are urging customers to avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in those states while the investigation remains underway.
The CDC and FDA have not publicly identified the supplier. However, two people familiar with the investigation told The Washington Post that Taylor Farms supplied the lettuce believed to be connected to the outbreak.
More than 1,600 people who became sick reported eating at Taco Bell restaurants in the five affected states.
“The investigation remains active, and additional states, restaurants, retailers, or products may be identified as more information becomes available,” a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services said.