Health officials have connected an outbreak of cyclospora infections among people who ate at Taco Bell locations in five states to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms. NPR headlined it "Iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell linked to cyclospora outbreak in 5 states". BBC News headlined it "Taco Bell removes lettuce from menu in US after links to explosive diarrhoea".
The lettuce was pulled from menus and recalled as investigators worked to determine the scope of illnesses. NBC News headlined it "Iceberg lettuce eyed in parasite outbreak". Breitbart headlined it "Officials: Taco Bell Lettuce from Mexico Identified as One Source of Diarrhea-Causing Illnesses Hitting U.S.".
Officials described the infection as cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness spread through contaminated food or water, and said it had been confirmed among people in states that reported exposure to Taco Bell. BBC News said: "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 1,645 people in five states that reported "1exposure" to Taco Bell have been infected by cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that spreads through contaminated food or water."1
Case counts varied by tally. One account put confirmed infections and those still under investigation nationwide at levels described in the following reports. NBC News reported: "Nationwide, nearly 7,000 people may have been sickened, with 1,645 of those cases confirmed and more than 5,100 still under investigation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."2 BBC News said: "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 1,645 people in five states that reported "1exposure" to Taco Bell have been infected by cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that spreads through contaminated food or water."1
Days after the lettuce was identified as a likely source, the FDA said further laboratory review had changed its conclusion. BBC News stated: "Due to the complexity in detection of Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive,"1 the FDA said in Sunday's statement."
Taylor Farms said the agency had made an error and apologized for the result. NBC News said: "In a statement Sunday night, Taylor Farms said the FDA made a mistake and apologized." The Daily Wire reported: "Taylor Farms revealed on Sunday that the FDA apologized for the "false positive" result."
The stomach parasite investigation and the response from Taco Bell drew continued attention as officials worked through the conflicting findings.
The episode also became a subject of political dispute, as one report highlighted.
