Taco Bell pulls some ingredients during cyclospora outbreak
The chain said the move is temporary and precautionary as health officials investigate a parasite outbreak reported in more than 30 states.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
2 min read
Taco Bell has removed some ingredients from select restaurants while public health agencies investigate a cyclospora outbreak that has caused severe diarrhea and sickened thousands of people in the U.S. The company said the step was voluntary, temporary and precautionary.
Taco Bell said health officials have not confirmed any connection between the outbreak and the chain, any particular ingredient or supplier, or any other business. The company did not identify which ingredients were pulled.
“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities,” Taco Bell said in a statement.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said infections have been reported in more than 30 states over the past two weeks. Michigan appears to be the center of the outbreak, according to public health officials cited by Bloomberg, and officials there said contaminated lettuce or salad greens may be involved.
Taco Bell is owned by Yum! Brands Inc. The company operates some locations directly and licenses others to independent franchisees. Bloomberg previously reported that franchise operators at some Michigan Taco Bell restaurants stopped serving lettuce as a precaution.
Yum shares were down 2.7% at 3:40 p.m. Tuesday in New York trading, according to Bloomberg. The stock remained up about 4% for the year.
The outbreak also weighed on shares of Sweetgreen Inc., a restaurant chain built around salads. Bloomberg reported that Sweetgreen shares fell as much as 13% Tuesday, their steepest intraday drop since February.
Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Michael Halen said lettuce supply problems or a jump in lettuce prices would pose a bigger concern for Sweetgreen because salads account for a large share of what it sells. Sweetgreen did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to Bloomberg.
Other restaurants have also made changes while investigators look for the source of the outbreak. The Buzz cafe in Monrovia, Maryland, said it was removing some menu items because of the cyclospora outbreak, and Aberrant Ales in Howell, Michigan, said it was taking lettuce off its menu.
Niki Becker, owner of the Florida vegan restaurant chain the Green Table Restaurant, said she removed lettuce from all locations. She also advised against using raw scallions and fresh basil.
Becker said she had not received a recall notice from suppliers but acted out of concern for customer safety. “What has me bothered, is that nobody is really saying where it’s coming from,” she said.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.