Taco Bell announced on Tuesday, July 14th, 2026, that it has voluntarily and temporarily removed some ingredients at select restaurants as a precaution amid an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by a parasite. The company emphasized that public health officials have not confirmed any link between the outbreak and Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant, or retailer.

"The health and safety of our guests is our top priority," Taco Bell Corp said in a statement to ABC News.

The outbreak was first identified on June 29th, when the Monroe County Health Department announced it was investigating a cluster of cases. Since June 22nd, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reported a total of 3,309 cases in the state, with most cases concentrated in southeastern Michigan, including Wayne County where Detroit is located.

Donald Prate, the Food and Drug Administration's acting deputy commissioner for food, stated, "We are aware of the signal for lettuce that's been noted by our Michigan partners. What I can say at this point is that we're continuing our traceback investigation on multiple produce items, including the lettuce."

As of Friday, July 11th, New York reported the second-highest number of cases at 470 since May 1st, followed by Ohio with 364 cases, according to state health officials.

Health authorities continue to work closely with states to update case counts as additional cases are confirmed.

Sources