CDC declares cyclospora outbreak over after 12,883 cases
According to the agency, the outbreak linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce caused illness across 21 states, including at least 570 hospitalisations and two deaths, before it ended.
The CDC declares the cyclospora outbreak over, saying on September 11 that the parasitic illness linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce had caused 12,883 cases across 21 states before case counts fell to zero.
According to the CDC, the outbreak caused at least 570 hospitalisations and two deaths, both in Michigan. The agency said illness onset dates ran from June 14 to August 17, 2026.
Taylor Farms lettuce named as the source
A record outbreak ends the way most do: once the tainted batch is finally gone.
Investigators at the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration traced the outbreak to iceberg lettuce processed by Taylor Farms de México, according to the two agencies. The lettuce was sold at retail and used in dishes served at Taco Bell locations, the agencies said.
Taylor Farms de México recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17, according to the FDA. The CDC said case counts fell from more than 1,000 a day at the outbreak's peak to fewer than two a day by August.
FDA says it is still investigating the cause
The CDC said the contaminated lettuce is no longer available in stores or restaurants. The FDA said it continues to investigate how the lettuce became contaminated, according to the agency's statement.
The outbreak ranks among the largest cyclosporiasis case counts the CDC has recorded in the United States, according to the agency's own outbreak history. Cyclospora infections are usually linked to imported fresh produce and can cause prolonged watery diarrhoea, the CDC said. Most patients recover within a few weeks once treated with antibiotics, though symptoms can return without treatment, according to the agency's guidance. The CDC advises washing fresh produce thoroughly before use, even when no recall is in effect.
The outbreak lands in a year when several large U.S. chains have faced separate pressures of their own, from Red Lobster's continuing round of closures to O'Charley's shutdown of every company-owned restaurant. The CDC said it will continue monitoring for any new cases connected to the same supply chain.
