Taco Bell Canada Reassures Customers: Lettuce Linked to U.S. Cyclospora Outbreak Was Not Served Locally

Taco Bell Canada has confirmed that the lettuce associated with a widespread Cyclospora outbreak in the United States was not served at any of its Canadian restaurants, seeking to reassure customers amid growing concerns that contaminated products may have crossed the border.

The company said in a social media statement that the lettuce used at its Canadian locations was not part of the shipments linked by U.S. health authorities to the outbreak. It emphasized that the product under investigation was never supplied to Taco Bell restaurants in Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency also said available information does not indicate that any of the affected lettuce shipments were distributed in the Canadian market.

The agency said it is reviewing information provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and continues to monitor the situation in cooperation with federal and provincial health authorities.

It added that appropriate action would be taken to protect consumers should a food safety risk be identified. However, Canadian authorities are not currently considering restrictions on fresh vegetable imports from the United States.

Canada regularly tests imported leafy vegetables, fresh herbs and certain types of berries for Cyclospora contamination.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has also confirmed that it is not currently investigating a Cyclospora outbreak within Canada. No related outbreak appears on the agency’s list of active public health investigations.

The clarification follows a U.S. investigation linking an outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

Investigators identified the lettuce supplier as Taylor Farms de Mexico, which announced the withdrawal of iceberg lettuce products originating from central Mexico from the U.S. market. Taco Bell also removed the affected products from its American supply chain.

U.S. health authorities reported more than 1,600 confirmed illnesses associated with eating at the Taco Bell locations included in the investigation. Dozens of patients required hospitalization, although no deaths were reported.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the intestines. People usually become infected after consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite.

Common symptoms include frequent watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss. Some patients may also experience a mild fever. Symptoms can continue for several weeks without appropriate treatment.

The infection is not normally transmitted directly from one person to another. Fresh produce may become contaminated when irrigation water or food-processing environments come into contact with human waste containing the parasite.

Canadian health authorities advise consumers to wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly, follow official food recall notices and seek medical advice if persistent watery diarrhea or severe symptoms develop after eating fresh produce.