Taco Bell Traffic Drops 31% as 4,173 Cyclospora Cases Fuel Lettuce Trust Crisis
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Jul 24
Taco Bell Traffic Drops 31% as 4,173 Cyclospora Cases Fuel Lettuce Trust Crisis
2 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jul 24
Summary
At least 4,173 Cyclospora cases across 41 states have left many consumers avoiding lettuce even after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the outbreak is under control.
The distrust deepened after the FDA first said a Taylor Farms lettuce sample tested positive on July 18, then reversed itself a day later and called the result a false positive.
Taco Bell, which removed Taylor Farms lettuce nationwide after investigators linked diners’ illnesses to the chain, saw July 17 traffic fall nearly 31% below its average Friday level in the first half.
Other chains have tried to reassure customers—Chipotle and Sweetgreen stressed they do not use iceberg lettuce—but analysts say social media misinformation is outpacing brand corrections.
The fallout is spreading beyond major chains: one Tennessee salad shop said daily customers fell from 150-200 to about 10, underscoring how food-safety confusion can become a broader restaurant trust crisis.