Taco Bell’s lettuce scare fuels hour cuts and AI rollout worries for staff

Taco Bell’s precautionary removal of lettuce following a suspected cyclospora contamination has led to a steep decline in customer volume, forcing managers to announce significant hour reductions for hourly crew members during a peak season. A self-identified manager posted on the r/TacoBell subreddit about the stress of delivering bad news, noting that many employees are unable to meet rent obligations despite working extra days.

Senior executives have likened the current slowdown to the darkest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, though they point out that delivery orders were higher then. At the same time, the chain is expanding an artificial-intelligence ordering platform to almost 900 outlets in 38 states, claiming it eases staff workloads and improves retention, despite a previous incident where the system attempted to fulfill an absurd 18,000-cup water order. Taco Bell maintains that all lettuce has been removed from its menu as a safety measure, leaving the impact of the outbreak and AI rollout on its workforce uncertain.