Lettuce-linked parasitic outbreak 2026
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Lettuce-linked parasitic outbreak spreads
Michigan's health department stated on Aug. 13 that it had 13,909 cases, including the first two deaths identified in the nationwide outbreak.
Yum! Brands received only 5,900 of the 236,192 total recalled lettuce cases, less than 2.5%.
Taylor Farms received the second-largest amount of recalled lettuce, with 68,897 cases or about 29%.
Cyclospora outbreak in Nebraska and Iowa linked to Taylor Farms lettuce
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reported more than 100 laboratory-confirmed infections during the week of July 5.
The CDC confirmed that cyclospora cases in Nebraska and Iowa are connected to a national outbreak sourced to Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce.
Cases tied to this outbreak were first reported in June.
Consumer Reports advises against avoiding fruits and vegetables due to Cyclospora
The largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak in U.S. history has been linked to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico.
At least 9,481 people in 17 states have been sickened by the outbreak linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce according to Aug. 13 case tallies.
Between 2016 and 2023, there were about 2,800 cases of cyclosporiasis reported annually in the U.S. on average.
Trump funding cuts slowed government cyclosporiasis response
Although the first illnesses began in mid-May, the CDC did not notify the public or healthcare providers about the outbreak until July 14.
The Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria was funded largely by USAID and was left with a $29 million hole when Trump dismantled USAID.
The White House said the referenced USAID funds administered by CDC supported overseas programs, not domestic disease response.
FDA says Taylor Farms Cyclospora lettuce test was a false positive
The FDA said it notified Taylor Farms of the revised finding and continues to work with the company and its Taylor Farms de Mexico operation to ensure products implicated in the investigation have been removed from the market.
Taylor Farms initiated a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17 after federal investigators traced lettuce served at certain Taco Bell restaurants to Taylor Farms de Mexico.
The FDA said no product samples had produced a confirmed positive result for Cyclospora as of Sunday.
“Due to the complexity in detection of Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive,”
Taylor Farms lettuce recall expands after Cyclospora-positive sample
A sample of shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico tested positive for Cyclospora.
Taco Bell voluntarily removed potentially affected lettuce from the supplier in select states where illnesses have been reported.
The multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak has sickened 1,644 people and hospitalized 94 across five states.
“The company has stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of the iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico, notified our customers, and we are continuing to work with the FDA, CDC, and state authorities.”