A wave of fast-food chains, including McDonald's, Burger King, Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell, are being highlighted for menu items that don't contain shredded lettuce, as the industry deals with fallout from an ongoing cyclospora outbreak in the US. The Food and Drug Administration has traced the outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, prompting concerned customers to seek alternatives while the investigation continues.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, with diarrhoea being the most common symptom. McDonald's standard hamburger is lettuce-free, though its Big Mac, McChicken and deluxe burgers all contain the ingredient, giving diners at that chain and others a way to avoid it while still eating out. Taco Bell has also introduced lettuce-free deals, including a $1 Mexican pizza, in an effort to reassure customers following the outbreak.