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Taco Bell responds to Cyclospora outbreak, becomes first major chain to pull at-risk ingredients

A Cyclospora outbreak has restaurant leaders on alert.

Photo: Alexander - stock.adobe.com

July 16, 2026 by Valerie Gritton

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Taco Bell has become the first major restaurant chain to take a responsive approach to the recent Cyclospora outbreak by voluntarily removing at-risk ingredients at certain restaurants, the company said in a statement to NBC News.

"The health and safety of our guests is our top priority," Taco Bell Corp said in its statement. "Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer. While authorities continue their broader review, Taco Bell has voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities."

Last week, local news outlets in the Detroit area reported signs at certain Taco Bell locations indicating the restaurants had pulled lettuce, cilantro, onion, pico de gallo and guacamole. However, no cases have linked to those locations.

As the Cyclospora outbreak expands — to more than 7,000 known cases across 34 states since May 1, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — restaurant brands are taking varied approaches to managing food safety risks while investigators work to identify the source.

The Cyclospora parasite has not been linked to any one specific type of contaminated food, grower, supplier or restaurant. However, historically, Cyclospora outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce such as:

Cilantro.
Basil.
Leafy greens.
Green onions.
Raspberries.

Overall, Taco Bell's decision illustrates how some brands are increasingly willing to make high-visibility, precautionary food safety decisions even before regulators identify a definitive source. That approach may become more common as chains seek to protect consumer trust and avoid the reputational damage seen in past foodborne illness outbreaks.

So far, McDonald's, Subway, Panera Bread, Wendy's, Chipotle, and other major restaurant brands have not publicly announced pulling produce related to the outbreak.

According to a CNBC article, spokespersons from Chipotle and Restaurant Brands International, parent of Burger King, Popeyes, Tim Hortons and Firehouse Subs, said they're aware of the outbreak, but have not seen any evidence that their ingredients are at risk.

As the outbreak continues, Forbes also has reported a decline in stock prices for several brands, including Sweetgreen, Taco Bell's parent Yum Brands, and Chipotle.

Cyclospora is microscopic protozoan parasite that causes an intestinal illness lasting anywhere from a few days to several weeks and symptoms generally begin within one or two weeks after exposure, said Gwen Biggerstaff, Deputy Director of the CDC's Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, in a July 14 briefing (Read the full transcript here).

The illness is spread when people consume food or water contaminated with the parasite — typically fresh produce that has not been adequately washed or cooked. It is not spread person-to-person and is not contagious, Beggerstaff said in the brief. The parasite also is killed when food is thoroughly cooked.