The ongoing outbreak of explosive diarrhea in Michigan and Ohio caused by the parasite cyclospora isn’t slowing down. Over 3,000 cases have now been reported. And state and federal health officials across the U.S. are reportedly now looking into whether Taco Bell may have had something to do with it. The chain’s sale of lettuce and other greens could potentially be a prime factor in the spread of the parasite. Apparently, the dyes in Baja Blast don’t make you immune.
On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that federal and state officials were investigating whether Taco Bell restaurants played a role in the spread of the gastrointestinal parasite. Ironically, one of the reasons Taco Bell is likely being investigated by officials is because it did the responsible thing and stopped selling lettuce and other potentially infected greens and plants at some locations in Michigan, the state which is currently experiencing the largest swell in cyclospora cases. Coincidence?
As reported by local media, starting last week, some Taco Bell locations around Detroit posted signs telling customers that the restaurants were “currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall.” However, there has been no nationwide recall on lettuce or other produce that can spread the parasite. Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, told CNN that any location not selling produce is currently doing so voluntarily.
“There have been proactive measures that were taken to ensure that exposure did not occur,” said Dr. Bagdasarian. A source with knowledge of the investigation told The Washington Post that Taco Bell’s move to stop selling produce in that area was an appropriate precaution. Taco Bell has yet to provide a public statement or comment about the situation.
Lettuce likely to blame for cyclospora outbreaks
On Monday, Michigan officials identified leafy lettuce as the main suspected source for the outbreak after interviewing over 1,000 patients. Some of these people told investigators that they had indeed eaten at Taco Bell in the week or so before developing explosive diarrhea.
However, others who spoke to the officials had not eaten at Taco Bell, so it’s unlikely the chain can be entirely blamed for thousands of people shitting their brains out. Well, it can’t be blamed this time; a bunch of people definitely have, at one time or another, traumatized their bowels from eating at the Tex-Mex chain.
“While the investigation is ongoing, current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for this outbreak, although other food items cannot be completely ruled out,” the Michigan Health Department explained in a press release.
“Although we do not have a definite product identified as the source of the outbreak, we want to let Michiganders know what we have learned so far so they can take steps to protect their families,” Dr. Bagdasarian said in a statement. “Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation.”