Cyclospora Outbreak at Taco Bell Sparks Federal Investigation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are working with state health departments to trace the source of the outbreak, which has sickened dozens of people across multiple states. The investigation comes after a cluster of cyclosporiasis cases was reported among individuals who had eaten at Taco Bell restaurants in the weeks before falling ill.

Cyclosporiasis is caused by the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite, which is typically transmitted through contaminated food or water. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and fatigue, and can last for weeks if untreated. Health officials urge anyone who has eaten at Taco Bell and developed these symptoms to seek medical attention and report their illness to local health authorities.

Taco Bell has stated it is cooperating fully with the investigation and has removed potentially affected ingredients from its supply chain as a precaution. The company has not issued a recall or closed any locations, but it is working with suppliers to identify the contaminated product.

The outbreak marks the second major foodborne illness investigation involving Taco Bell in recent years. In 2020, the chain was linked to a salmonella outbreak that sickened over 100 people. The current investigation is ongoing, and health officials have not yet identified a specific ingredient or supplier as the source of the Cyclospora contamination.