WASHINGTON, July 16 (DC Times Online) — Michigan health officials say lettuce or salad greens are the likely source of a cyclosporiasis outbreak, but they have not identified a specific brand or supplier and have not ruled out other foods.
Two people familiar with the investigation said federal and state health officials are also reviewing whether Taco Bell restaurants may have played a role in the outbreak.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said current results point to lettuce or salad greens, though other food items cannot be completely ruled out. The agency said no specific type of produce, grower, supplier or brand has been identified.
Taco Bell said public health officials have not confirmed a link to the chain or to any ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer. The company said it had voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precaution while it monitored the situation.
Fox Business reported that the FDA had not announced a Taco Bell recall and that its public notices did not include one. Michigan officials have described the outbreak as the state’s largest parasitic outbreak, and the health department said it had reached 3,309 cases as of July 9, with 44 hospitalizations.
