Taco Bell removes lettuce from menu in US after links to explosive diarrhoea

US fast-food chain Taco Bell says it is removing lettuce from its menu in some states after investigations reportedly found it could be linked to an outbreak of explosive diarrhoea caused by a parasite.

The decision was taken "out of an abundance of caution" following discussions with health officials, the company said in a statement to the BBC.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 7,000 people in 34 states have been infected by cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that spreads through contaminated food or water.

The company said lettuce from one of its suppliers is being removed indefinitely and will be replaced.

"While no official advisory has been issued, we believe public health is a shared responsibility among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities," the restaurant said.

It did not identify in which states lettuce will be removed from menus, but most of the infections have been reported in Michigan where more than 3,300 cases have been detected.

Taco Bell did not identify where the lettuce reportedly linked to the outbreak had come from, but US media have named the supplier as Taylor Farms. The BBC has contacted the company about the reports.

Symptoms of infections by cyclosporiasis can take about two weeks to present.

Watery diarrhoea that lasts for days, sudden weight loss, and a loss of appetite are some of the more common symptoms.

Experts have told the BBC the parasite is notoriously difficult to trace, a task possibly complicated in part by cuts to federal health agencies.

"This isn't like detecting a needle in a haystack. It's like detecting a microscopic portion of a needle in a haystack," said Steven Manderach, executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

Madeline Halpert, Kayla Epstein, and Grace Goodwin contributed to this report.