FDA Widens Cyclospora Probe to Six More States

The Food and Drug Administration has expanded its investigation of the Cyclospora outbreak to six additional states, bringing the total to 15 states with confirmed cases surpassing 6,000. The FDA’s latest update confirms 6,358 illnesses, at least 278 hospitalizations, and two deaths in Michigan linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.

The six states added since the agency’s July 24 update are Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. The expansion reflects additional interview data showing people who reported exposure to Taco Bell or recalled Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce, according to the FDA.

Outbreak Origins and Recall

The outbreak began on June 22, with illnesses continuing through July 31. On July 17, Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after the FDA’s traceback investigation identified the supplier as the convergence point for the outbreak. The recalled products included Marketside-brand salads and shredded lettuce sold at Walmart stores, as well as lettuce distributed to foodservice customers across at least 27 states.

Taco Bell, where many of the sickened individuals reported eating, stopped using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico as of July 17. The CDC and FDA continue to advise consumers not to eat recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico and to discard any affected products.

The Scale of the Outbreak

This is the largest known Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history, according to health officials. The true number of sick people is likely higher than reported, as some individuals recover without medical care and are not tested for the parasite. It can take up to six weeks for the CDC and state officials to determine if a sick person is part of the outbreak.

“We also expect to continue to see the number of confirmed cases rise, despite the recall, due to the fact that it can take as long as six weeks for CDC and state officials to determine if a sick person is part of this outbreak,” the FDA said in its update.

Michigan has been particularly hard hit, with state health officials reporting 11,234 people sickened statewide and 193 hospitalizations as of August 3. The two deaths in Michigan involved individuals with significant underlying health conditions that may have been adversely impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Fox News reported that both individuals had illness onset dates prior to the July 17 recall.

What Is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora is a single-celled parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness characterized by watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Symptoms typically begin about one week after infection and can last from a few days to a month or longer without treatment. Some infected people remain asymptomatic, while immunocompromised individuals may experience more severe illness.

Dr. Gwen Biggerstaff of the CDC advises that washing hands and fresh produce thoroughly under running water reduces the risk of infection. “Cooking kills the parasite, so heating food to 158 F or 70 C or higher is effective,” she told NPR.

Legal and Political Dimensions

The outbreak has triggered multiple lawsuits against Taco Bell and Taylor Farms. Minnesota lawyer Ryan Osterholm, who represents more than 350 clients in Michigan and Ohio, told WWMT that his clients have missed work, family reunions, and graduations this summer. “There is absolutely no question whatsoever that Taco Bell is the source of this outbreak and that their lettuce supplier, Taylor Farms, is the ultimate source of the outbreak,” Osterholm said.

The outbreak has also become a political flashpoint. The Trump administration’s deep cuts to public health agencies have left the CDC and FDA with fewer staff to handle surging caseloads, according to Rutgers food safety expert Donald Schaffner. “Realize, too, both at CDC and at FDA, these have been agencies that have been shaken up,” Schaffner told NPR. “There’s maybe fewer people there. There’s less well-trained people there. And good people have been fired, and good people have left.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has defended the administration’s response, stating, “We’re committed to providing the CDC and the FDA with the resources that they need,” as Fox News reported.

New CDC Leadership Amid Crisis

On August 5, the Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as the new CDC director in a 51-44 vote, giving the agency its first permanent leader in roughly a year. Schwartz, a Navy veteran and former deputy surgeon general, takes over amid the ongoing outbreak and a measles crisis. As NBC News reported, she will oversee the country’s public health response, including containing disease outbreaks. The Guardian noted she is Trump’s third pick to lead the CDC after a tumultuous period of leadership turnover.

What Consumers Should Do

Health officials urge consumers to discard any recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico immediately and to clean and sanitize surfaces that may have touched the products. Those who develop symptoms should contact their healthcare provider and request specific testing for Cyclospora, as routine stool tests don’t always screen for the parasite.

As the investigation continues, the FDA says it expects case counts to rise further. The agency has increased screening and sampling of products at the border to prevent additional contaminated lettuce from entering the U.S. food supply, and it continues to work with federal and state partners to ensure products linked to the outbreak have been removed from the market.