US outbreak of Cyclospora linked to shredded lettuce

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, now have an ongoing investigation following a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora illnesses, which started on dates ranging from 13 May to 13 July 2026 across the US.

Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 1644 people infected with Cyclospora and reporting exposure to Taco Bell have been reported by five states, including Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

FDA’s traceback investigation has identified a single supplier, Taylor Farms de Mexico, that provided shredded iceberg lettuce used by Taco Bell across these five states where sick people ate before becoming ill. A recall of these shredded iceberg lettuce products has now been issued.

The illnesses linked to this shredded iceberg lettuce are said to be a subset of the Cyclospora illnesses identified nationwide across over 30 states.

During a similar time frame, North Carolina reported elevated cyclosporiasis cases which is being investigate by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), in collaboration with the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) and local partners. According to a report on 17 July, the increase in cyclosporiasis cases in North Carolina does not appear to be associated with the shredded lettuce outbreak in the other five states, but commonly reported foods linked to cases in North Carolina include parsley, cilantro and lettuce. While this type of information can suggest which types of produce are more likely to be contaminated, it does not prove with certainty that any of these were the source of infection.

The case numbers will continue to evolve as the ongoing investigation works to identify the source and scope of the contamination across the US.

Image credit: iStock.com/MEDITERRANEAN