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Cyclospora Outbreak: Restaurants Seeing Slump in Sales After Removing Lettuce From Menus
The outbreak has driven double-digit sales declines for some chains as consumers avoid lettuce and menu items tied to the illness, industry sources said.
- 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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14 Articles
14 Articles
Cyclospora outbreak: Restaurants seeing slump in sales after removing lettuce from menus
Restaurant chains and local eateries are grappling with a dip in customer foot traffic and inventory challenges after a massive cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce.
·Washington, United States
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Can you eat lettuce safely during the cyclospora outbreak? Advice from an infectious disease expert
Rather than avoiding fresh produce, adopting a few sensible food safety practices can help you significantly reduce your risk of getting sick while continuing to enjoy the many health benefits and flavor perks of salads and fresh veggies.
·Arlington, United States
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US diners avoid restaurants as cyclosporiasis fears cut lettuce sales
U.S. consumers are steering clear of some restaurant chains and buying less lettuce in grocery stores as a multistate outbreak of a parasitic disease fuels confusion over what is safe to eat, according to foot traffic data and industry sources.
·London, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center13Last UpdatedBias Distribution93% Center
Bias Distribution
- 93% of the sources are Center
93% Center
C 93%
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