Between prices and a diarrhea-causing parasite, lettuce is causing hard times at some restaurants
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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