Ah yes, having to order your favorite tacos from Taco Bell WITHOUT lettuce. All over social media, everyone has heard about the “parasites” in the lettuce causing nausea and extreme stomach problems. Fortunately, I have never experienced the stomach illness caused by these parasites called “Cyclosporiasis.” These past few months, everyone has become paranoid about lettuce. From removing the lettuce in my Taco Bell orders to avoiding lettuce at supermarkets. Although it might seem like lettuce will never be the same again, the outbreak truly wasn’t as bad as it seemed.
The outbreak initially exploded in the Southeast Michigan region before spreading across 68 counties in the state. The cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to contaminated lettuce posed a significantly lower public danger than initial media coverage suggested. The parasite is not contagious between people; unlike the flu or a stomach virus, you couldn’t catch it by just being near a sick person, which kept the general public safe. It is easily treatable with common antibiotics, and once doctors knew what the parasite was, it was very easy to cure. It also resulted in very low hospitalization rates because the majority of the people who got sick did not need to go to the hospital; most people just stayed home, rested, and recovered on their own.
Only a month after the outbreak, almost all Taco Bells have addressed this lettuce issue. They reacted quickly by pulling the lettuce away. As soon as they realized their lettuce might be linked to the sickness, they voluntarily recalled the food to stop it from reaching more kitchens. Thousands of restaurants completely threw out their lettuce supply, deep-cleaned their kitchens, and switched to entirely different, safe farms so customers could eat safely again.
So the next time you step up to the counter at Taco Bell, don’t hesitate or second-guess your order. You don’t have to settle for a plain, lettuce-free taco anymore, nor do you need to scroll through social media worrying about what might be hiding in your food. The paranoia can finally end; the crisp green lettuce is completely safe again, and you can enjoy your favorite meal exactly the way it was meant to be made.