Taco Bell Stock Drops Amid Explosive Diarrhea Headlines

Taco Bell stock made a splash on Tuesday — and not in a good way — after headlines swirled about explosive diarrhea perhaps being linked to the popular fast food joint.

Even though a connection has not been made … shares of Yum Brands, in which Taco Bell is under the umbrella, dropped 4.5% to less than $160 a share. The price continued to slide during after-hours trading.

The recent outbreak of cyclosporiasis may be connected to lettuce served at Taco Bell … and state and federal investigators are looking into the matter.

According to The Washington Post … the investigation is ongoing, with leafy lettuce as the leading suspect in what’s causing the outbreak … but that doesn’t mean other food items can be ruled out. To be clear … the investigation extends beyond Taco Bell locations … with officials looking into various potential sources for the outbreak.

As you know … Taco Bell recently removed several fresh ingredients — including lettuce, pico de gallo, guacamole, and its cilantro-onion blend — from some locations while health officials investigate the surge in cyclospora.

“Public health officials have not confirmed a link to Taco Bell or any specific ingredient, supplier, ​restaurant or retailer,” Taco Bell said in a statement to Reuters.