Home / Health / Taco Bell Faces Steep Drop Amid Cyclospora Outbreak
Taco Bell Faces Steep Drop Amid Cyclospora Outbreak
23 Jul
Summary
- Customer traffic at Taco Bell declined significantly in recent days.
- Federal investigators linked the illness to lettuce supplied to the chain.
- Cyclospora cases have surged nationwide, with Michigan reporting the most.
Customer traffic at Taco Bell locations across the U.S. saw a significant decline in the week ending July 18, 2026. On Friday, July 17, visits were down 30.9 percent compared to the daily average. The following day, traffic decreased by 29.8 percent.
This sharp drop is attributed to a widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness caused by the cyclospora parasite. Federal investigators have linked confirmed cases to lettuce served at Taco Bell. As of the article's reporting, over 4,000 cases have been confirmed across 41 states.
In response, Taylor Farms, identified as the lettuce supplier, initiated a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Taco Bell subsequently removed the implicated lettuce from its supply chain, stating a commitment to public health and guest safety.
The outbreak has affected other fast-casual dining establishments as well, with chains like Chopt, Panera Bread, and Chipotle also reporting decreased foot traffic. While the FDA reported a "false positive test" in one sample, they emphasized that this did not alter the epidemiological data supporting the recall, and the origin of the outbreak is still under investigation.
