Consumer News: Feds reportedly zero in on Taco Bell as parasite outbreak investigation intensifies

The company is seeking data for AI training

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Samsung Health users are being asked to consent to the use of their health data to train the company's AI models.

• A report claims users who decline the request could lose cloud syncing and backup for their health data, with Samsung warning previously synced data may be deleted unless retention is required by law.

• The policy, first highlighted by How-To Geek, has sparked criticism from privacy advocates who argue users are being forced to choose between privacy and a core app feature.

Samsung is rolling out a change to its Samsung Health app that some argue could force users to choose between protecting their personal health information and retaining one of the app's most important features.

According to a report by How-To Geek, some Samsung Health users are seeing a new prompt titled "Consent to the Use of Health Data for AI Training and Modelling." The notice asks users to allow Samsung to use a broad range of health informationincluding activity data, sleep patterns, nutrition, body measurements, medication information, medical records and menstrual cycle trackingto improve its artificial intelligence models. Some of that data may also be reviewed by humans as part of the AI training process.

The controversy isn't simply that Samsung is requesting permission to use the data. According to the report, users who refuse consent receive a warning that Samsung Health will no longer synchronize their data with their Samsung account. The notice also says that previously synchronized health data will be deleted unless Samsung is legally required to retain it.

That effectively ties cloud backup and syncinga feature many users consider essentialto participation in Samsung's AI development efforts.

Samsungs position

Samsung has published a support page explaining how the data will be used. The company says approved health information will be used for "AI training and modelling, including human review," to improve Samsung Health algorithms and AI-powered features. The categories of information include wellness data such as step counts, sleep and nutrition, medication information, health records containing diagnoses and treatments, and menstrual cycle data.

Samsung has not publicly addressed criticism that users are effectively being coerced into sharing sensitive medical information by making cloud syncing contingent on AI consent. Multiple technology publications, including Android Authority, have reported seeking comment from the company.

ConsumerAffairs noted that at least two comments posted to the Android Authority article take issue with the report, however, with the writers saying they opted out of sharing data and have seen no impact to their app.

Samsung is expanding AI throughout its health platform. Last month, the company announced a redesigned Samsung Health experience featuring AI-generated health insights, personalized wellness guidance and new algorithms designed to help users better understand their biometric data.

Here are some of the ways they are doing it

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Summer vacation costs have climbed to a record average of $9,032, prompting many Americans to rethink how they travel instead of canceling their trips.

• Travelers are trimming expenses in creative ways, including taking shorter trips, driving instead of flying, staying with friends or family, and traveling during off-peak times.

• A new Squaremouth survey finds nearly nine in 10 travelers are making budget-conscious changes, reflecting a growing determination to travel despite higher prices.

Americans aren't giving up their summer vacations despite soaring travel costs. Instead, many are finding creative ways to stretch their travel budgets.

According to a new report from travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth, the average summer trip now costs a record $9,032 17% more than last year as higher prices for airfare, hotels, and other travel expenses continue to squeeze household budgets.

Rather than staying home, travelers are adapting.

Squaremouth's survey found that 88% of travelers are making at least one money-saving adjustment to keep their vacation plans intact. The findings suggest that travel remains a priority for many households, even as inflation and rising travel prices force consumers to rethink how they spend.

How theyre doing it

Among the most common strategies:

• Choosing destinations closer to home to reduce transportation costs

• Driving instead of flying when practical

• Taking shorter vacations

• Traveling during off-peak dates to take advantage of lower prices

• Staying with friends or relatives rather than booking hotels

• Preparing some meals instead of eating out for every meal

The report also found that many travelers are becoming more flexible about where and when they travel, allowing them to take advantage of lower fares and lodging rates.

"People aren't necessarily canceling vacations they're changing the way they travel," the report concludes, noting that travelers are prioritizing experiences while looking for opportunities to cut costs elsewhere.

The findings are consistent with other recent travel surveys showing that Americans continue to place a high value on vacations despite rising costs. Deloitte's 2026 Summer Travel Survey found travelers expect to spend more than $4,000 on their longest summer trip, while many are opting for longer stays or upgraded experiences even as fewer Americans overall plan to travel.

Value over luxury

Financial experts say the shift reflects a growing emphasis on value rather than luxury. Instead of eliminating travel from their budgets, consumers are seeking ways to preserve the experience while trimming unnecessary expenses.

That can mean swapping expensive hotels for vacation rentals or family homes, taking road trips instead of flights, or scheduling travel before or after peak vacation periods.

Travel advisers also recommend booking transportation and lodging as early as possible, remaining flexible with travel dates and destinations, and setting a daily spending budget to avoid relying on credit cards for vacation expenses.

With travel costs showing little sign of easing this summer, those strategies may become increasingly common as Americans try to balance their desire to get away with the realities of a tighter household budget.

A study shows parents are increasingly at odds with school policy

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• A new national survey finds that nine in 10 parents want their children to have access to a phone during the school day, even as more than 35 states have adopted or proposed restrictions on student cellphone use.

• Parents overwhelmingly cite school safety and the ability to reach their children during emergencies as their top concern, creating tension with policies designed to reduce classroom distractions.

• The findings highlight a growing divide between educators seeking phone-free classrooms and parents who view smartphones as an essential safety tool.

As states across the country continue to tighten restrictions on student cellphone use, a new survey suggests most parents are reluctant to give up one feature they value most: the ability to reach their children during the school day.

According to a national survey released by child safety technology company Bark Technologies, 90% of parents believe children should have access to a phone while at school, even though more than 35 states have enacted or are considering policies that limit or ban cellphone use during school hours.

The survey illustrates the challenge facing school districts as they attempt to balance improved classroom focus with parents' growing concerns about school safety.

Safety outweighs convenience

Parents' concerns appear to be driven less by a desire for constant communication than by fears of emergencies. School shootings, lockdowns, and other safety incidents have heightened anxiety, making many parents uncomfortable with policies that prevent students from contacting family members directly.

The survey found that parents whose children attend schools with cellphone bans report significantly higher levels of anxiety about being unable to communicate with their children during the school day.

The findings come as lawmakers across the country have embraced cellphone restrictions as a way to reduce distractions, improve academic performance, and curb cyberbullying. Many schools now require students to store phones in lockers, sealed pouches, or designated storage areas until the end of the school day.

A growing national movement

The push for phone-free schools has accelerated over the past two years. Supporters argue that smartphones interfere with learning, contribute to mental health issues, and reduce face-to-face interaction among students. More than 35 states have adopted some form of statewide cellphone restriction or guidance for schools.

Research has shown that strict school phone policies substantially reduce classroom phone use, though evidence that they immediately improve academic achievement or student behavior has been mixed.

The survey suggests many parents are not necessarily opposed to limiting phone use during instruction but want children to retain access when needed, particularly during emergencies.

That may leave school districts searching for compromise solutions, such as allowing students to keep phones secured in locked pouches that can be opened after school or during an emergency, rather than requiring devices to be left at home altogether.

The CDC is searching for the source of the contamination that has sickened hundreds

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Federal investigators are reportedly focusing on Taco Bell as they work to identify the source of a multistate Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands of people.

• The Washington Post reports that some people who became ill had eaten at Taco Bell, though investigators stress the outbreak extends beyond the restaurant chain and no specific supplier has been identified.

• Michigan health officials now say lettuce and salad greens are the leading suspected source, while Taco Bell has already removed several fresh ingredients from some restaurants as a precaution.

Federal and state health officials are increasingly focusing on Taco Bell as they investigate one of the nation's largest outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness linked to contaminated fresh produce, according to a report by The Washington Post.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not concluded that Taco Bell is responsible for the outbreak. Instead, investigators are examining whether restaurants in the chain may have received contaminated produce from a common supplier. Officials also caution that the outbreak clearly extends beyond Taco Bell because many people who became ill reported never eating at the restaurant.

The outbreak has sickened thousands of people in more than 30 states and has hospitalized more than 80, making it one of the largest Cyclospora outbreaks in recent U.S. history.

According to The Washington Post, federal and state investigators are reviewing interviews with patients, restaurant visits and food purchasing records to determine whether Taco Bell locations shared contaminated ingredients with other restaurants or retailers. Some people who became ill reported eating at Taco Bell before developing symptoms, while others did not.

Lettuce emerges as leading suspect

On Monday, Michigan health officials announced that interviews with more than 1,000 patients point to lettuce or salad greens as the most likely source of the outbreak, although they emphasized that other foods have not been ruled out. Michigan has recorded the largest number of illnesses, with more than 2,600 confirmed cases.

"While the investigation is ongoing, current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for this outbreak," the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said.

Cyclospora infections have historically been linked to fresh produce, including cilantro, basil, raspberries, salad mixes and snow peas. Because symptoms typically appear several days to two weeks after exposure, tracing the source is especially difficult. Patients often struggle to remember exactly what they ate, and many cases are never diagnosed because specialized laboratory testing is required.

Taco Bell acted before a source was confirmed

Last week, some Taco Bell restaurants, particularly in the Detroit area, posted notices informing customers they were temporarily unable to serve lettuce, cilantro onions, pico de gallo and guacamole because of what the notices described as a nationwide recall.

One person familiar with the investigation told The Washington Post that the company's decision to voluntarily remove the ingredients was an appropriate precaution while investigators continue searching for the source.

The newspaper reported that Taco Bell has not publicly explained its decision or responded to multiple requests for comment.

Symptoms can last for weeks

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the small intestine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it most commonly causes watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Some patients experience frequent "explosive" diarrhea, and untreated illness can persist for weeks or even longer.

The parasite spreads through food or water contaminated with human waste and is not generally transmitted directly from person to person. Antibiotics are available to treat the infection.

Health officials continue to urge consumers to wash fresh produce thoroughly, although washing alone may not completely eliminate the parasite. Investigators are still working to identify the specific grower, distributor or supplier responsible for the contaminated produce.