While the Centers for Disease Control began tracking the parasite Cyclospora in May, it hasn’t publicly connected the outbreak to any specific food or restaurant brands.
Even so, when the Washington Post reported this week that Taco Bell was allegedly under the microscope, the chain responded fast to a falling stock and an impending PR nightmare.
On Tuesday, July 14, the same day the CDC held a press conference on the outbreak, Taco Bell pulled ingredients including onions, lettuce, and cilantro from menus in select locations as a precaution.
It swiftly followed the PR crisis playbook, sending a statement to national publications, including ADWEEK, emphasizing that its priority was “the health and safety of our guests,” and vowing to cooperate with health authorities and “closely monitor the situation.”
