Taco Bell Corp. said it voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients from select restaurants as the Taylor Farms cyclosporiasis outbreak investigation widened across more than 30 states. Public health officials have not linked Taco Bell to any specific ingredient, supplier, restaurant or retailer.
The outbreak had reached 1,645 cases as of July 13, with more than 5,100 additional cases under investigation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said testing and other evidence indicates cases in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky are likely linked.
Chipotle and Laurie Schalow
Chipotle has not been connected to the outbreak. Laurie Schalow, Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs and food safety officer, said, "We are aware of the Cyclospora investigation and at this time, we don’t believe the ingredients we source are associated," and added, "We are monitoring the situation closely and evaluating any new information as it becomes available." She also said, "The health and safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority.”
The company’s statement gives customers the practical line to watch: Chipotle is not pulling back from its supply chain on the basis of the current investigation, but it is keeping its review open as new information arrives. That leaves the question of which ingredient, if any, is driving the outbreak investigation still unresolved.
Maria Helen Kalaitzandonakes on brands
Maria Helen Kalaitzandonakes, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, said, "Food safety continues to be a top priority for the American public," and that "Foodborne illness outbreaks − and even outbreak rumors − can be costly for restaurant firms, leading to reductions in brand trust and in sales," adding, "Outbreaks are also costly for a number of other reasons, for example, litigation."
Shares of Chipotle dropped nearly 5% on Wednesday, July 15, giving investors a fast read on how quickly an outbreak investigation can move from public health scrutiny into market pressure. For customers, the immediate takeaway is narrower: Taco Bell has already removed limited ingredients at select restaurants, while the investigation continues to sort out whether any specific supply source is responsible.
