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California Lettuce Growers Plow Crops Under as Cyclospora Fears Crush Demand
Yum Brands said Taco Bell U.S. same-store sales fell 2% as consumers pulled back from lettuce-linked menu items, while other chains also saw traffic decline.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration linked a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants and sourced from Taylor Farms in central Mexico, prompting the chain to remove the product nationwide on July 17.
- Health authorities confirm 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases, with more than 11,500 additional suspected illnesses under investigation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Michigan reported 9,680 cases on Tuesday, up 427 from the day before.
- Foot traffic at Taco Bell dropped 20.8% on July 23 compared to the six-month Thursday average, according to analytics firm Placer.ai, while salad chain Chopt saw a 12.2% decline on the same day. Yum Brands reported same-store sales are down 2% so far in July-September.
- Yum Brands CEO Chris Turner stated that clear communication helped bring diners back, noting customers understand "it is not a Taco Bell specific issue." Chief Financial Officer Ranjith Roy reported sales have been steadily improving since mid-July.
- Consumers paid an average of 33% more for fresh lettuce last month compared to a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as worries about infections have driven down retail unit sales across the produce category.
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162 Articles
The Times of Northwest Indiana+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Cyclospora boosts fears of more foodborne outbreaks
The next foodborne illness outbreak could be much worse.
·Munster, United States
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Michigan's lettuce-linked parasite outbreak may be slowing, but the risk isn't over
Michigan may be seeing early signs that a major parasite outbreak tied in part to recalled lettuce is beginning to ease. However, health officials say that does not mean the contaminated produce is entirely out of circulation — or that additional illnesses will not continue to emerge, according to NBC News. What's happening? A recent update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that case trends in Michigan may be easing a…
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Total News Sources162
Leaning Left35Leaning Right18Center99Last UpdatedBias Distribution65% Center
Bias Distribution
- 65% of the sources are Center
65% Center
L 23%
C 65%
12%
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