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Consumers shun lettuce and some restaurant chains amid cyclosporiasis fears

Foot traffic fell at Taco Bell and other chains after the FDA linked cyclosporiasis cases to iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, with lettuce purchases and dining visits down as health officials investigate more sources.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Industry & Deals

U.S. consumers are avoiding some restaurant chains and buying less lettuce in grocery stores amid a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, as confusion over what foods are safe has grown, according to Insurance Journal. The FDA has linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants and sourced from privately held Taylor Farms in central Mexico, and cases have continued to rise even after Taylor Farms said it removed potentially affected products from the marketplace.

The ongoing increase has heightened uncertainty around whether other products could be infecting people, with health officials saying they are investigating additional potential sources. In North Carolina, parsley and cilantro were commonly identified among people who became ill, though officials noted there could be multiple exposure sources, and health leaders urged caution without discouraging consumption of leafy greens in general.

As consumers wait for more clarity, many are cutting back on fresh lettuce and on visits to restaurants whose menus rely on greens. The report cites that foot traffic at Taco Bell, owned by Yum Brands, has slumped every day since July 13, dropping 20.8% on July 23 versus the Thursday average between January 1 and July 6, based on Placer.ai data.

Placer.ai data also showed foot traffic declines on July 23 compared to the prior six-month Thursday average, including a 12.2% drop at salad chain Chopt, 1.4% at Chipotle Mexican Grill, and 3.1% at Panera Bread. Taco Bell said it removed affected Taylor Farms lettuce from its restaurants as of July 17, and the article notes that some chains did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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