These are not salads. US health authorities announced on Friday that they have identified the cause of the cyclosporiasis epidemic that has affected several US states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked the contamination to salad served at Taco Bell restaurants.
An investigation by the US Food Safety Agency (FDA) concluded that the parasite came from a Mexican lettuce supplier. The affected products were used at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
Almost a hundred hospitalizations
According to the CDC, 1,644 people have contracted the intestinal infection, which causes “explosive diarrhea.” There were 94 hospitalizations in total, and the agency said all of the cases in its report were linked to contaminated lettuce sold by the restaurant chain.
In response, Taco Bell said that “the affected ingredient from our supplier is being removed indefinitely from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in some states.”
An infection that can last a month.
“We believe that public health is a shared responsibility of restaurants, their suppliers and governments, and we are proud to have always acted quickly and proactively to protect our customers,” the company added.
Our file on the United States
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds that cyclosporiasis can last more than a month if left untreated and lead to dehydration, although it is usually not fatal. For its part, the FDA clarifies that the reports published by states may differ from national data because they often include both probable cases and confirmed cases.