Wendy's, Chipotle State Supply Chains Unaffected by Taco Bell Lettuce Outbreak

Wendy's and Chipotle Mexican Grill announced on Friday that their operations and supply chains are not connected to a cyclosporiasis outbreak that U.S. health officials have linked to a competitor, Taco Bell.

Details of the Outbreak

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are actively investigating a parasitic illness outbreak across five states. According to CDC data cited by the FDA, 1,644 people infected with cyclosporiasis reported exposure to Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

The investigation has traced the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite that can lead to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Restaurant Responses

In response to the investigation, Yum Brands-owned Taco Bell said Thursday it would stop using lettuce from the supplier identified by the FDA. The company had already begun voluntarily removing the ingredient from affected restaurants.

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Wendy's and Chipotle moved to reassure investors and customers by clarifying their sourcing practices:

• Wendy's stated that the CDC's investigation is focused on iceberg lettuce imported from Mexico, a source the burger chain confirmed it does not use.
• Chipotle noted that it does not serve shredded iceberg lettuce, and its romaine lettuce and Supergreens salad mix are not sourced from Mexico.

Supplier Identification

Neither the FDA nor Taco Bell has publicly named the supplier of the contaminated lettuce. However, The Washington Post reported that investigators had identified California-based Taylor Farms as a potential source of the contamination in the outbreak.