In the middle of summer, a microscopic parasite has quietly moved through American supply chains, turning a common salad ingredient into a vector of widespread illness. Taco Bell's decision on July 16 to remove lettuce from a specific supplier across select states reflects a broader reckoning with how deeply interconnected our food systems are — and how swiftly a single contaminated source can ripple outward into thousands of lives. With over 4,300 cases confirmed in Michigan alone and the outbreak touching 34 states, the episode asks us to consider the invisible trust we place in the hands th
Taco Bell removes lettuce in select states as cyclospora outbreak spreads
Over 4,300 people infected with cyclosporiasis in Michigan alone, with at least 102 hospitalizations statewide; thousands more sickened across 34 states experiencing gastrointestinal illness.