Taco Bell in Canada says its lettuce is safe to eat amid cyclospora outbreak in U.S.
Taco Bell lettuce is safe
The Canadian Press - Jul 18, 2026 / 3:48 pm | Story: 625270
This undated photo taken through a microscope provided by the CDC shows Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts found in a fresh stool sample which had been prepared with a formalin solution and stained with safranin. (CDC via AP)
Taco Bell in Canada says the lettuce that has caused an outbreak of the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora in the United States has not been served at its locations.
The company made the announcement in a social media post after lettuce served at five Taco Bell restaurants in American states -- Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia -- was identified as a source of the outbreak.
Data from the the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests nearly 7,000 people have become sick since May.
The Public Health Agency of Canada says it's not investigating any cyclospora outbreaks but there is typically an increase in infections in the spring and summer linked to imported fruits and vegetables.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has said it's in touch with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness that can cause watery diarrhea for six to seven weeks.
