Experts Reveal Whether Lettuce Is Now Safe To Eat Amid Cyclospora Outbreak
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Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Impacts The Nation
Health officials continue to investigate a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness linked to contaminated fresh produce that has sickened thousands of people across the United States this summer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cyclosporiasis is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which spreads through food or water contaminated with the parasite. Some reports linked many cases to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in several states.
More than 10,000 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported nationwide, while another 12,000 suspected cases are still awaiting verification. The state that has been most significantly impacted by the outbreak has been Michigan, which has reported more than 11,000 cases of the parasitic infection.
What Are The Latest Updates?
The outbreak sourced from Taylor Farms was initially thought to be in only five states, but the FDA’s investigation led to the count increasing, as of August 5, with a total of 15 states believed to be adversely affected by cyclospora infections.
The FDA said in statement:
“This increase in cases is due, in part, to the inclusion of people who reported exposure to Taco Bell or recalled Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce and the identification and addition of six new states that are now linked to this outbreak.”
Despite the Taylor Farms lettuce recall, the FDA warned that the number of reported cases could continue to rise, noting that it can take up to six weeks for state and health officials to determine whether an illness is connected to a specific outbreak.
On August 3, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reported the first two deaths linked to the outbreak. First identified from 1993 to 1994, cyclosporiasis was determined to be caused by a “human gastrointestinal pathogen” derived from the cyclospora cayetanensis parasite
Is It Safe To Consume Lettuce Again?
According to the MDHHS, as far as the state of Michigan goes, residents can now resume following routine food safety guidance when consuming lettuce and salad greens.
The department also noted that the majority of the affected produce is “likely” no longer available for purchase or consumption by consumers.
“After reporting 12,485 cases of cyclosporiasis in Michigan since June 2026, the data now suggests that new cyclosporiasis case reports are slowing, including a downward trend in diarrhea-related emergency department visits,” MDHHS states.
While they continue to recommend avoiding recalled lettuce, the department says residents can safetly return to eating bagged salads.
“The broad, precautionary recommendation to avoid bagged salad mixes during the Cyclospora outbreak is no longer in effect. Residents may resume their usual food handling practices and make choices based on their individual risk tolerance,” the department continued.
