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

A cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce has caused sales declines at Taco Bell and other restaurants. Yum Brands reported a 2% drop in U.S. same-store sales for Taco Bell during July-September 2026, while Chipotle and salad chains like Chopt and Sweetgreen also experienced reduced traffic and spending.