Taco Bell pulls salad from menu after outbreak of diarrhea

US fast food chain Taco Bell has said it is removing lettuce from its menu in some states after tests say it is linked to explosive diarrhea caused by a parasite.

The decision was taken following discussions with health authorities, the company said in a statement to the BBC.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 7,000 people in 34 states have contracted cyclosporiasis from the parasite transmitted through contaminated food or water.

The company has announced that lettuce from one of its suppliers is being removed indefinitely and will be replaced.

The restaurant said: “While no official advice has been issued, we believe public health is a shared responsibility between restaurants, their suppliers and authorities.

It did not say which states would remove the lettuce from menus, but most of the infections were found in Michigan, with more than 3,300 cases.

Taco Bell has not said where the lettuce allegedly linked to the outbreak came from, but US media have named the supplier as Taylor Farms. The BBC contacted the company about the reports.

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis can take up to two weeks to appear.

Watery diarrhea that lasts for days, sudden weight loss and loss of appetite are some of the common symptoms.

Experts told the BBC that it is difficult to detect parasites, a task that may be complicated in part by cuts to federal health agencies.

“It’s not like looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Steven Manderach, executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Administration.

Madeleine Halpert, Kayla Epstein and Grace Goodwin contributed to this report.