WASHINGTON, July 29, 2026: U.S. consumers are cutting back on restaurant visits and buying less fresh lettuce as fears surrounding a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak continue to spread, affecting restaurant chains, grocery sales and the broader fresh produce market.
The outbreak has created uncertainty among consumers over which foods are safe to eat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants and sourced from privately held Taylor Farms’ operations in central Mexico.
Although Taylor Farms said it removed all potentially affected products from the marketplace, reported cases have continued to rise. The development has intensified concerns about whether other food products could also be contributing to infections caused by the parasite Cyclospora.
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Fuels Consumer Concerns
Health officials are investigating additional possible sources of infection. In North Carolina, parsley and cilantro were among the ingredients commonly identified among people who became ill, although state health authorities have cautioned that there could be multiple sources of exposure.
The uncertainty has prompted some consumers to reduce their purchases of fresh lettuce and avoid restaurant chains whose menus depend heavily on leafy greens.
Dr. Tyler Evans, CEO of the public health organisation Wellness Equity Alliance and a former New York City chief medical officer, said healthy adults can continue eating leafy greens, while noting that consumers in states such as Michigan that have been heavily affected by the outbreak may need to pay particular attention to public health guidance.
Evans also highlighted the nutritional importance of leafy greens, saying consumers should not necessarily avoid them entirely unless advised to do so by health authorities.
Taco Bell Foot Traffic Drops During Outbreak
The cyclosporiasis concerns have also been reflected in restaurant foot-traffic data. Taco Bell, owned by Yum Brands, has experienced declining customer visits since July 13.
According to analytics firm Placer.ai, foot traffic at Taco Bell fell 20.8% on Thursday, July 23, compared with the average Thursday level recorded between January 1 and July 6.
Other restaurant chains also recorded declines. Foot traffic was down 12.2% at Chopt, 1.4% at Chipotle Mexican Grill and 3.1% at Panera Bread on July 23 compared with their average Thursday traffic during the previous six months.
Chipotle declined to comment on the figures, while Taco Bell, Chopt and Panera Bread did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Taco Bell has said it removed the affected Taylor Farms lettuce from its restaurants by July 17.
A representative of Placer.ai said restaurant chains that experienced significant traffic declines following the recent Cyclospora outbreak were still seeing fewer customers, although the company suggested that the worst impact on restaurant traffic may have passed.
What Is Cyclosporiasis and How Does It Spread?
Cyclosporiasis is a food- and waterborne illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora. People can become infected after consuming food or drinking water contaminated with human feces containing the parasite.
The outbreak has resulted in 6,707 laboratory-confirmed cases in the United States, while health authorities are aware of more than 11,500 additional suspected cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Michigan has been particularly affected. State health officials reported 9,680 cases on Tuesday, an increase of 427 cases from the previous day.
The rising case numbers have contributed to consumer uncertainty, particularly around fresh produce and leafy greens. Health authorities continue to examine potential sources as officials work to establish the full scope of the outbreak.
Restaurants and Retailers Reconsider Produce Supplies
Some major retailers and restaurant operators have stopped sourcing produce from the central Mexico region associated with the expanding outbreak, according to former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb.
The concerns extend beyond restaurants, with fresh produce retailers also seeing weaker demand. The impact illustrates how uncertainty surrounding a foodborne illness can quickly spread across the supply chain, even when consumers are not certain which specific products are affected.
Fresh Lettuce Sales Fall Across the US
The U.S. lettuce market has also suffered as consumers respond to the outbreak with caution.
Paul Sellew, CEO and founder of Little Leaf Farms, a lettuce producer based in the eastern United States, said concerns about infections had pushed the company’s sales down by double digits.
Data from market research firm NielsenIQ showed that U.S. unit sales of fresh lettuce in the week ending July 18 were 9% lower than the previous week and 19% lower than two weeks earlier.
Sellew said the decline was not limited to lettuce, noting that the broader fresh produce category at retail was also experiencing weaker sales as consumers reacted to health concerns.
“The consumer has been motivated by fear,” Sellew said.
Little Leaf Farms Tries to Reassure Customers
To reassure customers, Little Leaf Farms has highlighted its production and food-safety practices.
The Massachusetts-based company grows lettuce in greenhouses supplied with potable water or rainwater collected from a roof. According to Sellew, water does not enter the company’s facilities before undergoing ultraviolet disinfection.
The company also uses automation in its growing system, which Sellew said limits direct human contact with the lettuce during production.
Little Leaf Farms has sought to explain these practices to consumers as the cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to affect confidence in fresh produce.
Outbreak Creates Challenges for Food and Restaurant Industry
The cyclosporiasis outbreak in the U.S. is creating challenges across several parts of the food industry, from restaurants and grocery retailers to lettuce growers and other fresh-produce suppliers.
The decline in restaurant traffic and fresh lettuce purchases highlights the economic consequences of uncertainty surrounding food safety. While health officials investigate additional possible sources of infection, consumers and businesses are waiting for clearer information about the products and locations linked to the outbreak.
For restaurant chains that rely heavily on fresh lettuce and other leafy greens, the situation could continue to affect customer behaviour until consumers gain greater confidence in the safety of available produce.
At the same time, producers are emphasising food-safety measures and differences in growing practices in an effort to reassure customers that not all leafy greens have the same production and handling conditions.
With confirmed and suspected cases continuing to be monitored, the outbreak remains a significant public-health and food-industry story in the United States. Further findings from health authorities could determine whether the current decline in lettuce demand and restaurant visits is temporary or develops into a wider consumer shift away from fresh produce.
