Molly McPhersonCrisis and Reputation Strategist | Creator of Mollyfi | Host of The PR Breakdown

My NBC News hit about Taylor Farms outbreak.

26 Jul 2026 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

2:06

The NBC News segment discusses the ongoing cyclospora outbreak potentially linked to Taylor Farms lettuce, highlighting widespread consumer confusion and fear about what foods are safe. Health officials and the FDA continue investigating, having ruled out an earlier positive test but leaving many questions unanswered. Crisis communication expert Molly McPherson explains that the pervasive uncertainty itself hampers brand responses. The segment details the impact on businesses, noting a sharp decline in foot traffic at Taco Bell—nearly a 30% drop—as the chain removed all Taylor Farms lettuce and introduced a $1 lettuce‑free stuffed tortilla to regain customers. Other brands have also distanced themselves, publicly stating they do not serve iceberg lettuce, yet consumer anxiety persists, eroding trust in food establishments. The overall narrative underscores how ambiguous scientific and regulatory information can trigger consumer boycotts, challenge crisis communication, and force rapid operational changes in the food industry.

Chapters

I don't want it.
There will be no lettuce for me.
Today, confusion over the source of the cyclospora outbreak is leading to a different kind of confusion: what's safe to eat?
Are we all going to get that diarrhea parasite?
I want my salad, please. Health officials say they're making progress.
We do have the outbreak under control, but many of the details remain unclear.
The FDA says Taylor Farms remains under investigation even after ruling out an earlier positive test. All of that leading to lots of unanswered questions and some consumers leaving lettuce behind. Is anyone else boycotting lettuce like it's the plague? Crisis communication expert Molly McPherson says the unknown is part of the problem. There's still a lot that we don't know. Is uncertainty in a way its own biggest hurdle for a lot of these brands and companies to navigate?
The science is confusing, the regulation is confusing. So much about this case really rests on the confusion of it all. The result?
Consumers putting their money where their mouth is— or isn't.
We were doing about 150 to 200 people a day, and then like as of last Saturday, we dropped down to about 10 a day.
Taco Bell saw the biggest drop, with visits down nearly 30% using that same comparison. The easiest thing for a consumer to do is just not eat it. In a statement last week, Taco Bell said it removed all Taylor Farms lettuce from its restaurants nationwide and on Tuesday introduced a new $1 lettuce-free stuffed tortilla. In an effort to win back customers. While some of the other brands have tried to distance themselves, telling customers on social media and through loyalty apps they don't even serve iceberg lettuce. But that hasn't stopped consumer fears from spreading online. I'm scared to eat a freaking salad. Which makes building trust offline that much more difficult.
Nobody wants to be falsely blamed for something if they have nothing to do with it. But the public doesn't care about that. Right now it's all about reassurance. Every single brand. Molly McPherson.