Taco Bell reportedly under federal investigation over possible link to growing 'explosive diarrhea' outbreak

A Taco Bell marquee.

Fast food giant Taco Bell's longtime slogan was "Run For The Border," but now health officials are reportedly investigating whether the chain's mishandling of fresh produce has been sending people running for the bathroom.

According to The Washington Post, multiple anonymous sources say federal and state health officials are probing whether Taco Bell may be at the center of a parasitic outbreak that is being blamed for horrible bouts of "explosive diarrhea." Cyclosporiasis is the gastrointestinal infection wreaking havoc around the country, and it's caused by cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite that is found in human feces, according to NBC News.

Roughly 5,000 cases have been reported nationwide, with the number of cases rising each day. In all, more than half of U.S. states have reported cases and at least 80 people have been hospitalized. The "explosive diarrhea" bug has hit especially hard in Michigan, where more than 3,000 have fallen ill. Some Taco Bell locations in the Detroit area posted signs saying the chain was “currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall" in recent days. 

“Although we do not have a definite product identified as the source of the outbreak, we want to let Michiganders know what we have learned so far so they can take steps to protect their families,” Michigan’s chief medical executive, Natasha Bagdasarian, said in a statement about the ongoing probe. “Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation."

The Washington Post reported that one of the health officials with knowledge of the investigation said, "It’s good the chain has already voluntarily stopped serving a number of items.” Some of those who have been sickened reported having eaten at Taco Bell, The Washington Post reported. Michigan usually tallies about 40-50 cases of cyclosporiasis per year. Past cases have been linked to basil, raspberries, salad mixes, cilantro, and snow peas.

The symptoms of the parasite-driven illness are positively unpleasant and include watery diarrhea that many have described as explosive and long-lasting, among other things, like loss of appetite. Ohio has also been hard-hit by the outbreak, and one woman from Ohio spoke out about her recent experience with the illness, saying she was "camped out in the bathroom" for weeks beginning in late June. “It’s not for the weak, I’ll tell you that," she said.