America's biggest food distributor cuts suppliers as 'explosive diarrhoea' cases rise

America's biggest food distributor has stopped buying iceberg lettuce from Mexico as the country continues to grapple with a viral outbreak linked to at least two deaths.

There are now more than 10,400 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclospora nationwide – the most on record, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are an additional 12,255 suspected cases.

Lettuce from Mexico served in Taco Bell restaurants is believed to be to blame, and the US government has already advised people in several states to avoid eating it.

Now Sysco, which sells and supplies food products to restaurants, stadiums, and other venues across America, has announced it's stopped buying iceberg lettuce from Mexican providers.

CEO Kevin Hourican told Reuters news agency: "To the degree that we can further diversify our procurement, that is something we're ​actively working on."

'Explosive diarrhoea' among symptoms

While cyclospora is not generally life-threatening, two people have died after becoming infected in Michigan. They had underlying health conditions.

The cyclospora parasite spreads through food or water contaminated with human faeces. This often happens when produce, such as salad leaves and unpeeled fruit, is washed with contaminated water.

"Explosive diarrhoea" is one of the main symptoms of cyclospora, according to the UK Health Security Agency, which has reported a rise in infections in British tourists returning from Mexico.

Others include abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, flatulence, low-grade fever, loss of appetite and weight loss.

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Taco Bell has said it's no longer using iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms – the company that produced it – while other similar lettuce products have been recalled.

But the popular fast food chain is still bracing for lower sales because of the outbreak. Other food outlets are also expecting some impact due to public concerns, even if not named by the Federal Drug Administration's investigation.

Among them is Chipotle, another Mexican food chain, which has been forced to remove jalapeños from some of its restaurants due to a potential link to a salmonella outbreak.

The company said the health and safety of customers and staff "is our highest priority", and the peppers had been removed out of an abundance of caution.

It comes after the Minnesota Department of Health confirmed it was investigating an outbreak tied to several Mexican-style quick-service restaurants – with jalapeños the suspected source. Officials identified 110 cases.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhoea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick recover within a week.

(c) Sky News 2026: America's biggest food distributor cuts suppliers as 'explosive diarrhoea' cases rise