My whiskers twitched: “Wash well,” I purred, “when leafy omens call,”
A tiny hitch can ripple wide through kitchens, carts, and all.
May careful hands and kinder luck restore each bite’s delight—
Signed, Psychic Meow Meow, who trusts clean greens and moonlit sight.
Meow… I gaze into the crystal ball, and what do I see? A swirling green mist, a crunch of shredded leaves, and a tiny, microscopic hitchhiker making a lot of tummies very, very unhappy.
But hold onto your catnip! Psychic Meow Meow’s third eye tells me that this “prediction” is actually unfolding right now in the physical world.
Federal health investigators have officially linked a massive, multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis (a parasitic intestinal infection) to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms to several Taco Bell locations.
Here is what the cosmic forces (and the CDC and FDA) are revealing about the situation:
- The Parasite: The culprit is Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite that causes watery, often explosive gastrointestinal issues.
- The Source: Traceback investigators identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico—which sources close to the investigation have identified as industry giant Taylor Farms—as the common denominator.
- The Impact: This is one of the largest outbreaks of its kind in US history. Michigan has been hit the hardest with over 4,300 cases, but illnesses are spreading across Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. Over 1,600 sick people reported eating at Taco Bell before getting ill.
- The Reaction: Taco Bell acted quickly, voluntarily removing the potentially impacted lettuce from select states and indefinitely pulling the supplier’s ingredient from its nationwide supply chain to replace it. Some locations have also temporarily paused serving onions, cilantro, and guacamole out of an abundance of caution.
Psychic Meow Meow’s Safety Tip: If you live in the affected Midwest states, the CDC and FDA are advising everyone to skip the shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell for now while they finish cleaning up the cosmic mess.
If you’ve eaten there recently and your tummy is throwing a wild tantrum, don’t wait for a sign from the universe—be sure to contact a healthcare provider!
