Taco Bell 50K keeps October date as parasite probe rolls on
Race co-founder Dan Zolnikov told TMZ organizers still expect to hold the Denver endurance event this fall despite a cyclosporiasis outbreak.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
The Taco Bell 50K is still barreling toward its October start, even as federal investigators look at whether lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants is tied to a multi-state cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Race co-founder Dan Zolnikov told TMZ that organizers are still planning to stage the fall event. He said participant health is the top concern, but he expects the outbreak to be resolved and its source identified well before runners line up.
Zolnikov acknowledged to TMZ that the situation could make some runners think twice before registering. He also said the outbreak may hurt Taco Bell’s image in the short term, after the company addressed concerns on Instagram.
The race, however, has not been called off or delayed, according to Zolnikov’s comments to TMZ.
The Taco Bell 50K was created in Denver by Zolnikov and Jason Romero as a playful endurance challenge built around their affection for the fast-food chain, TMZ reported. The pair previously appeared on “TMZ Live” to discuss the run with Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere.
Romero appears to be keeping the faith in the brand, too. Zolnikov told TMZ that Romero is currently hiking the Colorado Trail with a Taco Bell in Leadville, Colorado, as his destination.
According to Zolnikov, Romero is expected to reach Leadville in three or four days. He still plans to mark the end of that trek with a meal from Taco Bell, Zolnikov told TMZ.
What investigators are looking at
TMZ previously reported that the Food and Drug Administration is investigating whether iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms to some Taco Bell restaurants is the source of the cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Cyclosporiasis is the illness at the center of the federal investigation, according to TMZ’s reporting. The report identifies the outbreak as multi-state and says investigators are focused on whether the lettuce supply may be connected.
Taco Bell has said it pulled the suspected ingredient from affected restaurants while the investigation continues, TMZ reported.
The company’s move does not appear to have changed the race organizers’ current plan. Zolnikov’s message to TMZ was cautious but clear: safety comes first, and the October event remains on the calendar.
The Taco Bell 50K sits in a very specific corner of running culture: part ultra-style endurance challenge, part fast-food fandom. The outbreak has added a public health cloud over the brand, but the founders are not treating it as a reason to scrap the event, based on Zolnikov’s account.
For now, organizers are watching the investigation and hoping the issue is settled before race day. Runners, meanwhile, will have to decide whether the Taco Bell-themed test still sounds like their kind of punishment.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.