Consumers are cutting back on both trips to certain restaurant chains and purchases of fresh lettuce at grocery stores as health officials and the industry contend with a spreading outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal parasitic illness that causes severe watery diarrhea.
Federal investigators at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants that was traced to Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico. Taylor Farms said it removed all potentially affected products from the market, but reported infections have continued to rise, sustaining public uncertainty about other possible sources of contamination.
Public health authorities are continuing to investigate additional potential sources. North Carolina health officials noted that parsley and cilantro were commonly reported ingredients among people who fell ill in that state, while acknowledging that multiple exposure sources remain possible.
As people await clearer answers, behavior in both retail and foodservice channels has shifted. Data from location analytics firm Placer.ai show an extended slump in foot traffic at Taco Bell starting July 13, with a 20.8% decline on Thursday, July 23 compared with the typical Thursday average between January 1 and July 6. Other chains also showed declines on that same July 23 Thursday versus their prior six-month Thursday averages: Chopt, a salad chain, was down 12.2%; Chipotle Mexican Grill was down 1.4%; and Panera Bread was down 3.1%.
Taco Bell reported removing the affected Taylor Farms lettuce from its restaurants as of July 17. Chipotle declined to comment on the traffic figures, while Taco Bell, Chopt and Panera Bread did not immediately respond to requests for comment to the analytics firm’s findings.
"Restaurant chains that saw significant foot traffic declines following the outbreak of Cyclospora in recent weeks are still seeing fewer customers," a representative for Placer.ai said, adding that the worst of the declines may already be behind those chains.
Medical and public health voices have offered qualified guidance. Dr. Tyler Evans, CEO of the Wellness Equity Alliance and a former New York City chief medical officer, said healthy adults can continue to eat leafy greens in most states, except those especially affected such as Michigan, while acknowledging the nutritional importance of such produce. "If this were some recall on candy or licorice, I’d say just don’t eat it," he said. "But the nutritional benefit of leafy greens is significant, so we don’t want to tell people to avoid it at all costs."
The outbreak has led to large numbers of confirmed and suspected cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 6,707 laboratory-confirmed infections, and health authorities are aware of more than 11,500 suspected cases. Michigan has reported a particularly high caseload, with state officials reporting 9,680 cases on a recent Tuesday - an increase of 427 cases from the previous day.
Concerns about the geographic source of contaminated produce have prompted some large retailers and restaurants to pause sourcing from the region of central Mexico identified in the investigations. Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said that some companies have stopped sourcing produce from that region because of worries about widespread contamination.
At retail, the outbreak and accompanying publicity have taken a measurable toll on lettuce sales. Paul Sellew, CEO and founder of Little Leaf Farms, which grows lettuce in eastern U.S. greenhouses, said demand has fallen by double-digit percentages as consumers react to infection fears. Market research firm NielsenIQ’s data showed U.S. unit sales for fresh lettuce in the week ending July 18 were down 9% from the previous week and down 19% from two weeks earlier.
Little Leaf Farms has sought to reassure customers by describing its production processes. Sellew said the company grows lettuce inside greenhouses supplied with potable water or rainwater collected on roofs; that no water enters its facilities before undergoing ultraviolet disinfection; and that automation in its growing system keeps human hands from touching the lettuce. "How we grow is so fundamentally different that there’s no way that these issues could affect our product," he said. "Not all leafy greens are created equal."
Health officials emphasize that cyclosporiasis can be contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with feces containing the microscopic Cyclospora parasite. The outbreak’s persistence despite removal of certain products has left both consumers and parts of the supply chain uncertain, with retailers, restaurants and specialty growers taking steps to communicate safety practices or alter sourcing as investigations continue.
Summary
Consumers have reduced purchases of fresh lettuce and visits to several restaurant chains following an FDA link between a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak and iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell sourced from Taylor Farms in central Mexico. Despite product removals, confirmed and suspected cases continue to rise, prompting further investigations and sourcing changes across segments of the produce supply chain.
Key points
- Retail and foodservice demand impact - Foot traffic fell at Taco Bell, Chopt, Chipotle and Panera, and unit sales of fresh lettuce dropped notably in recent weeks, pressuring both restaurants and produce retailers.
- Epidemiology and sourcing - The FDA linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in central Mexico but authorities continue to investigate other possible sources including herbs flagged in North Carolina cases.
- Supply-chain responses - Some large retailers and restaurants have stopped sourcing from the implicated region; specialty growers are publicly explaining production practices to reassure customers.
Risks and uncertainties
- Ongoing case increases - Rising confirmed and suspected cases, including a surge reported in Michigan, could sustain consumer caution and further depress demand in restaurants and produce retailing.
- Source ambiguity - Continued investigation into additional potential sources, such as herbs identified in North Carolina, creates uncertainty for sourcing strategies across the produce supply chain.
- Reputational and economic strain - Chains and suppliers tied to the outbreak may face prolonged traffic and sales declines while consumers await clearer public health guidance.