Between prices and a diarrhea-causing parasite, lettuce is causing hard times at some restaurants
Also reported by PBS NewsHour
Summary
Lettuce prices rose sharply in early 2026 due to hot weather in Arizona, affecting supply for many restaurants. A cyclospora parasite outbreak linked to shredded lettuce, especially at Taco Bell, has caused health concerns and lowered customer visits at several salad chains.Key Facts
- Arizona produces about one-third of the lettuce in the U.S., and hot weather there caused supply problems early in 2026.
- Prices for iceberg and other lettuces increased significantly, with iceberg costing about 25 cents more per head than last year.
- A cyclospora parasite outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce caused thousands of Americans to get sick.
- Taco Bell stopped using shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms after the outbreak and saw a 21% drop in customer visits.
- Other salad chains like Chopt and Sweetgreen also experienced fewer customers and lower sales during the outbreak period.
- The Food and Drug Administration continues investigating the outbreak to understand its full scope.
- Fuel price increases, related to geopolitical events in the Persian Gulf, contributed to higher costs for producing and transporting lettuce.
- Some salad mixes were sold cheaper than last year, offering some relief to shoppers.
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