In the United States, a significant multistate outbreak of Cyclospora has been reported, primarily linked to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. As of July 26, 2026, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that nearly 2,000 individuals across nine states have been infected. The affected states include Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The outbreak has prompted a recall initiated by Taylor Farms de Mexico on July 17, 2026, which involved all iceberg lettuce sourced from the region.
Cyclospora cayetanensis, the parasite responsible for the illness known as cyclosporiasis, typically causes symptoms such as watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting or low-grade fever. The CDC has noted that symptoms usually develop about a week after exposure, which complicates the tracking of cases. The agency is currently investigating the outbreak, and it is expected that the number of confirmed cases may rise as it can take weeks for officials to determine if individuals are part of the outbreak.
Historically, Cyclospora was not recognized as a significant foodborne illness in North America until the mid-1990s, following a widespread outbreak linked to Guatemalan raspberries. The largest previous outbreak recorded in the U.S. involved 1,465 confirmed cases across multiple states. The current outbreak is already one of the largest documented in U.S. history, with the CDC reporting a total of 4,173 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis since the Cyclospora season began on May 1, 2026. Additionally, there are over 7,400 cases that are not yet laboratory confirmed and require further investigation.
Taylor Farms has stated that food safety is their highest priority and has taken several steps in response to the outbreak. They have temporarily suspended production at their central Mexico facility and commissioned independent experts to review their food safety practices. As of July 24, 2026, the FDA reported that there were no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora. Consumers are advised to avoid products included in the voluntary recall as investigations continue.
