On July 28, the U.S. fast-food chain Taco Bell announced a $1 promotion for a lettuce-free item at participating locations nationwide. Amid a recent surge in Cyclosporiasis cases across the country linked to contaminated lettuce, the brand has seen a sharp decline in store traffic, and this commercial offer is seen as an emergency measure to recover market share.
Specifically, the promotion features a lettuce-free version of the "Mexican Pizza," valid only on the 28th and limited to one per order. The regular price for this item ranges from $5.39 to $6.99. This marks the second targeted promotion by Taco Bell in recent weeks, following a similar $1 offer for a lettuce-free wrap on July 22.
Market monitoring data reveals that, due to the lettuce contamination incident, Taco Bell's nationwide store traffic has dropped more than 30% compared to the average Friday levels in the first half of this year. While the company has not directly linked the promotion to the outbreak, public opinion widely views it as an effort to attract back customers who have been deterred.
The current Cyclosporiasis outbreak has sparked widespread public health concerns in the United States. On July 17, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked the parasitic infection to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, Taco Bell announced the removal of the affected ingredients. In a statement, Taco Bell said it acted swiftly to remove the implicated ingredients from its national supply chain and all stores, based on caution and ongoing communication with public health officials.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) previously reported that the Cyclosporiasis outbreak has primarily affected nine states, including Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas, with cases reported across 41 states in total. To date, over 11,500 infection cases have been recorded this season, of which 4,173 have been confirmed, with thousands more still under evaluation. The intestinal disease can cause severe diarrhea lasting several weeks.
The CDC emphasized that the actual number of infections may be much higher than officially reported, as some infected individuals have not sought medical care or undergone testing.
Comments