Taco Bell Stumbles on a Lettuce Crisis

塔可钟陷入生菜危机

WSJ What’s News

2026-07-18

14 分钟
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P.M. Edition for July 17. Taco Bell has outpaced fast-food rivals for years, but contaminated lettuce could put a damper on its growing business. Heather Haddon, who covers restaurants for the Journal, discusses how the chain is handling the situation–and why that’s crucial for its business. Plus, a new AI model from China that could rival the most cutting-edge U.S. models weighed on tech stocks today. We hear from WSJ tech columnist Christopher Mims about the challenge for Silicon Valley. And it’s the World Cup final on Sunday. WSJ sports editor Joshua Robinson tells us what he’ll be looking out for when Argentina faces off against Spain. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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  • A Chinese AI company is releasing an open source model that could challenge AI giants in the U.S.

  • I would call this Deep Seek Part 2, except I think, frankly, the threat is even bigger this time.

  • Plus, how big a problem is the contaminated lettuce outbreak for Taco Bell?

  • And what to watch for when a team of maestros take on the comeback kings during Sunday's World Cup final?

  • It's Friday, July 17th.

  • I'm Alex Ossola for The Wall Street Journal.

  • This is the PM edition of What's News.

  • The top headlines and business stories that move the world today.

  • Taco Bell for years has grown sales faster than other fast food chains in the U.S.,

  • thanks to new menu items like Diablo-dusted crispy chicken nuggets and Mountain Dew Baja Blast pie.

  • Now, though, the microscopic parasite, cyclosporiasis, could threaten that.

  • Federal health officials have linked the recent outbreak to shredded

  • iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell locations in five states.

  • Heather Hadden covers restaurants for the Journal and joins me now.