Lincoln Restaurants Pull 3 Produce Items Amid Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

Q: Is a local Nebraska food scare part of the massive national lettuce outbreak?

No. Lancaster County’s cyclosporiasis cases have not been confirmed as part of the specific multistate lettuce outbreak. Local health officials in Lincoln said they have identified five cases in Lancaster County, including one tied to international travel and four acquired in the United States. They have not yet found a common source or determined whether the cases are connected to any national outbreak. That is why Stauffer’s Cafe & Pie Shoppe removed lettuce, spinach and strawberries as a precaution, not because a direct source had been identified. Nationally, Cyclospora cases are rising sharply, and federal investigators are tracking several outbreaks. One major outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at some Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Nebraska has not been identified as part of that confirmed Taco Bell-linked cluster. So the Nebraska scare appears to be part of a broader national surge in Cyclospora infections, but not, based on current evidence, part of the confirmed lettuce outbreak tied to Taco Bell. Investigators are still working to determine whether the Nebraska illnesses share any source with other cases nationwide. Cyclospora is commonly linked to fresh produce, including leafy greens and berries, and symptoms can take one to two weeks to appear. Anyone with prolonged watery diarrhea should seek medical care and ask specifically about Cyclospora testing.

3 articles · Updated · KOLN · Jul 18

Stauffer’s Cafe & Pie Shoppe and other Lincoln restaurants removed lettuce, spinach and strawberries from menus after Lancaster County health officials announced cyclosporiasis cases earlier this week.
The restaurants said they have not flagged problems with vendors but are acting proactively to reduce risk, especially for customers who are elderly, very young or otherwise vulnerable.
There is no timeline for when the items will return, leaving businesses to balance safety steps with customer confidence as the outbreak response continues.
Regulars interviewed said the menu changes make them more comfortable dining out, offering support for local restaurants despite concern around produce-linked illness.