Taco Bell has reportedly begun pulling produce from some of its store locations following a parasite-caused illness outbreak that has sickened more than 1,000 people in Michigan, according to MarketWatch.
The outbreak involves a parasitic illness and has grown large enough to prompt action from the fast food chain. The decision to remove produce from certain stores suggests the fresh ingredients may be connected to the spread of the illness, though the full scope of the contamination and which specific items are involved had not been fully detailed in early reports.
Michigan health officials have been tracking the outbreak as the case count crossed the 1,000 mark. Parasitic illnesses linked to fresh produce can spread quickly when contaminated ingredients are distributed across multiple locations before the source is identified.
Taco Bell operates thousands of locations across the United States. A move to pull produce from even a portion of those stores represents a significant operational response and signals concern that the outbreak may be tied to the chain's supply chain. The company had not confirmed all details publicly as of the initial reporting.
Foodborne illness outbreaks tied to fresh produce have prompted recalls and menu changes at major restaurant chains before. Health investigators typically work to trace the contaminated item back through the distribution chain to its source, a process that can take days or weeks depending on how widely the product was distributed and how well records are kept at each stage.
