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Taco Bell pulls ingredients. Chipotle monitors cyclosporiasis outbreak
Ken AlltuckerUSA TODAY
Updated July 16, 2026, 12:10 p.m. ET
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With a fast-moving gastrointestinal illness cyclosporiasis infecting thousands in more than 30 states, the popular fast food chain Taco Bell has removed ingredients from some stores in what it said was a precautionary move.
Taco Bell Corp. said it "voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients" at select restaurants. The fast food chain added public health officials haven't "confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer."
As cyclosporiasis spreads and Taco Bell pulls some ingredients out of caution, one can't help but think of other restaurants that might be at risk. Shares of Chipotle dropped nearly 5% on Wednesday, July 15, even though the chain has not been connected to the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Chipotle officials said they don't believe their ingredients are affected by the outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a stomach-churning illness that can trigger explosive, watery diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
“We are aware of the Cyclospora investigation and at this time, we don’t believe the ingredients we source are associated," Laurie Schalow, Chipotle's chief corporate affairs and food safety officer said in a statement. "We are monitoring the situation closely and evaluating any new information as it becomes available. The health and safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority.”
Food safety breaches can quickly sour consumers and investors on a brand or restaurant, experts said.
"Food safety continues to be a top priority for the American public," said Maria Helen Kalaitzandonakes, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
Chipotle shares drop Wednesday
A decade ago, Chipotle took a financial hit after multiple bouts with foodborne illness.
A 2024 paper co-authored by researchers at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University tracked the financial impact following those incidents.
The paper tracked eight outbreaks at Chipotle from 2015 and 2018, including outbreaks contained within a single state and those involving multiple states. The paper concluded restaurants that endure a single outbreak involving multiple states can experience more scrutiny during later outbreaks, even if contained to a single state.
"Foodborne illness outbreaks − and even outbreak rumors − can be costly for restaurant firms, leading to reductions in brand trust and in sales," said Kalaitzandonakes, who co-authored the 2024 paper. "Outbreaks are also costly for a number of other reasons, for example, litigation."
About 60% of foodborne illnesses outbreaks occur at restaurants, the paper said. The vast majority, 97%, are contained within a single state, but some multistate outbreaks capture widespread media attention.
That's what happened with Chipotle, the paper said. Chipotle outbreaks limited to a single state received little attention and had no financial impact before the chain experienced a multi-state outbreak that was widely covered by media outlets. Following that, even "single-state events resulted in national media coverage and large financial impacts," the paper said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said testing and other evidence indicates cyclosporiasis cases in four states − Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky − are likely linked.
Cyclosporiasis has been confirmed in 1,645 cases as of July 13 and is under investigation in more than 5,100 additional cases, according to data from the CDC. Confirmed or suspected cases have been reported in 34 states, CDC officials said.
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