Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Hits Taco Bell Sales, Unlikely to Cause Lasting Scar, Analysts Say
Placer.ai said visits fell nearly 19% on July 17 after the FDA linked Taco Bell lettuce to a cyclosporiasis outbreak and recall.
- On Friday, July 17, the FDA and CDC linked shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell to an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak across five states. The chain saw an 18.9% decline in foot traffic that day compared to average Fridays this year.
- Following the FDA link, supplier Taylor Farms issued an expansive voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce products on July 17. The CDC has confirmed more than 1,600 cases across 34 states since the outbreak began in May.
- Shares of Yum Brands fell nearly 10% last week as consumer apprehension spread to competitors. Subway saw a 3.3% decline in foot traffic on July 17, while Chipotle experienced a 6.9% drop the same day.
- Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant wrote on LinkedIn that the company will "continue to be transparent about what we know and what we are doing next." The chain removed potentially impacted lettuce from its supply chain nationwide.
- Izzy Kharasch, president of Hospitality Works, said "they are already making the right moves," suggesting swift action could restore consumer confidence. Analysts noted the outbreak would need to persist for months to materially damage the brand long-term.
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The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Taco Bell leadership’s scramble to contain this summer’s “explosive diarrhea” cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to lettuce sold at their restaurants and to save the Mexican food brand has been described in a new report. Last week, Taco Bell an…
Taco Bell employee posts video of empty restaurant, and the multistate Cyclospora outbreak is at the heart of it
A viral video shared to X by the account @WallStreetApes highlights a stark change in business at a Taco Bell location, showing an empty dining room and a nearly silent kitchen, Daily Dot reported. The footage features an employee walking through the restaurant, pointing out that the order screen is completely empty, with only a few delivery orders active on DoorDash. The user who posted the clip claimed these stores would typically show 10-30+ …
Dispatch Argus
ARY NewsCyclosporiasis outbreak hits Taco Bell sales
The United States' largest foodborne illness outbreak in recent years, linked to shredded lettuce served at some Taco Bell eateries, may dent the fast-food chain's sales, but is unlikely to cause any long-lasting damage to the brand, analysts said.
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