A widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection known for causing watery diarrhea, has been linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in five states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Investigation and Response

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified a single supplier of the lettuce, and Taco Bell has committed to stop using any lettuce from the supplier. The CDC is working with the supplier to determine if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market, including in other states.

Michigan has seen the most cases of cyclosporiasis, with over 5,000 reported infections. Health officials have said that current results point to lettuce or salad greens as the source, but other food items cannot be completely ruled out.

The parasite, cyclospora, is a microscopic, spherical organism that commonly causes watery diarrhea with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements. Outbreaks tend to occur most often in the late spring and summer.

Experts say that cyclospora cases historically may have been underreported, in part because some common tests used to check for food poisoning have not been geared to detect cyclospora. They attribute the increasing trend in cases to climate change and better detection.

Anyone experiencing frequent, watery diarrhea is being urged to contact their healthcare provider and specifically request testing for cyclospora, as routine stool tests may miss the parasite.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.