WASHINGTON, July 16 (DC Times Online) — Michigan health officials say lettuce or salad greens are the most likely source of a cyclosporiasis outbreak, a finding that could affect what diners choose while investigators review a possible Taco Bell role.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said current results point to lettuce or salad greens as the potential source, but other food items cannot be ruled out. The agency said no specific produce type, grower, supplier or brand has been identified.
Two people familiar with the investigation told The Washington Post that federal and state health officials are looking into whether Taco Bell restaurants played a role. Taco Bell said public health officials have not confirmed a link to the chain or to any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer.
The company said it temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precaution. The Food and Drug Administration had not announced a Taco Bell recall, and its public notices did not list one, according to Fox Business’s review of the agency website.
Michigan health officials have described the outbreak as the state’s largest parasitic outbreak and have reported thousands of cases.
