Popular salad chain shutters all stores amid cyclosporiasis outbreak

A made-to-order, casual dining chain has announced its immediate closure after filing for bankruptcy amid the fatal cyclosporiasis outbreak.

Thousands of US citizens have reported experiencing ‘explosive diarrhoea’ after contracting an intestinal parasite that spreads from contaminated water or food, with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently expanding health warnings to 15 states, including Arkansas and Missouri.

It was reported earlier this week that two people in Michigan had died from infection, with health officials claiming both had ‘significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration’.

As report numbers continue to rise, fast-food institutions such as Taco Bell continue to omit salad, including lettuce, from their menus.

The salad removal is simultaneous to a Taylor Farms goods recall, impacting shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.

Lettuce has been recalled across the United States due to a parasitic outbreak (Getty Stock Image)

In a statement to FOODbible, the business said it ‘immediately removed all potentially implicated product from the marketplace’ when ‘questions were raised about the source of the recent Cyclospora outbreak’.

As the health concern continues to rumble, Salad and Go has confirmed it has permanently shuttered 70 locations as it files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

According to reports, all locations across Arizona and Nevada are closing.

In a company statement, Salad and Go owners said: “While Salad and Go earned the support and loyalty of a deeply passionate community, the business was ultimately unable to overcome sustained pressure on consumer demand, past strategic growth challenges and rising costs.

One fast-casual dining chain has fallen amid the the fatal cyclosporiasis outbreak (Instagram/@saladandgo)

“A Cyclospora outbreak in July, in which Salad and Go was not implicated, weakened confidence across the industry and compounded these challenges.”

Tony and Roushan Christofellis, who co-founded Salad and Go, used the Facebook page of their current chain, Angie’s, to mark the demise of their former business.

The pair exited the business in 2021 after selling it to an investment chain, as per the New York Post.

“Today is a bittersweet day for us. Thirteen years ago, we started Salad and Go with a simple belief that great-tasting, good-for-you food should be affordable for everyone,” they wrote via a Facebook post.

Salad and Go has filed for bankruptcy, shuttering all remaining stores (Google Maps)

“We dreamed that anywhere there was a McDonald's, there would also be a better and healthier alternative that people could afford. Although we exited in 2021, watching the company announce the closing of its remaining locations is heartbreaking. We’re grateful for every team member, customer, supplier and community that believed in our crazy mission.”

CoStar has since reported that coffee chain Dutch Bros has filed a bid to take over the leftover real estate.

FOODbible has contacted Dutch Bros for comment.