Taco Bell removes lettuce from menu in US after links to explosive diarrhoea

Taco Bell has announced the removal of lettuce from its menus in unspecified U.S. states after investigations linked the ingredient to an outbreak of explosive diarrhoea caused by a parasite. The decision, described by the company as being made "out of an abundance of caution," followed consultations with health officials, according to a statement provided to the BBC. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 7,000 individuals in 34 states have contracted cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection transmitted through contaminated food or water. Taco Bell said lettuce supplied by one of its vendors will be withdrawn indefinitely and replaced with an alternative source. "While nary authoritative advisory has been issued, we judge nationalist wellness is simply a shared work among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities," the chain stated. The company did not specify which states will see the lettuce removed, though the majority of infections have been recorded in Michigan, where over 3,300 cases have been identified. Taco Bell did not disclose the origin of the lettuce implicated in the outbreak, but U.S. media outlets have identified the supplier as Taylor Farms. The BBC has reached out to the company for comment. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis may take around two weeks to appear and include watery diarrhoea lasting several days, sudden weight loss, and reduced appetite. Experts told the BBC that tracing the parasite is notoriously difficult, a challenge potentially exacerbated by reductions in federal public‑health funding. "This isn't similar detecting a needle successful a haystack. It's similar detecting a microscopic information of a needle successful a haystack," said Steven Manderach, enforcement manager of the Association of Food and Drug Officials. Madeline Halpert, Kayla Epstein, and Grace Goodwin contributed to this report.