US officials declare an end to record-setting cyclospora outbreak, but
its origin is still unknown
[September 12, 2026]
By MIKE STOBBE
NEW YORK (AP) — The largest cyclospora food poisoning outbreak in U.S.
history is over, U.S. health officials said Friday.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials said they are confident that
all recalled iceberg lettuce related to this specific outbreak is off
the market.
Nearly 13,000 reported cyclospora cases were tied to the multistate
outbreak, federal officials say. They represent the bulk of an
unprecedented surge in the parasitic diarrheal illness this year.
Even with the outbreak deemed over, several questions remain, including
about its origin. The parasite is spread through human feces, and it
still isn't clear how sewage could have contaminated enough food to
sicken so many people.
“This contamination can happen if produce is grown in soil or comes into
contact with water that has been contaminated,” said Ellen Shumaker,
director of outreach for a North Carolina State University food safety
program, Safe Plates.
Since May 1, the government has received reports of nearly 20,000
lab-confirmed cases, or more than 16 times the number reported during
the same period last year. More than 6,100 suspected cases also have
been reported.
The worst previous year in the U.S. for infections was 2019, when about
4,700 illnesses were reported nationally.
This year’s surge in cases was dominated by an outbreak in 21 states
linked to iceberg lettuce. But there are thousands of other cases that
have not been linked to that outbreak.
Michigan was the hardest hit state, with the most reported cases and the
two U.S. deaths tied to the outbreak.
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 Cyclospora is a microscopic,
spherical parasite that commonly causes watery diarrhea “with
frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the
CDC. Outbreaks tend to occur most often in the late spring and
summer.
The illness, called cyclosporiasis, is less common than foodborne
illnesses caused by other germs, including salmonella and E. coli.
Many cases are never linked to a specific food or other source.
In this outbreak, investigators initially zeroed in on lettuce
served at Taco Bell. Federal officials subsequently focused on
Taylor Farms as the source of the lettuce, and the company recalled
iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico.
The Taylor Farms recall involved thousands of packaged salad
products combining iceberg lettuce with other vegetables. The
products were shipped to major U.S. restaurant chains, including Yum
Brands, which owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC.
The FDA has ended its on-site inspections and sample collection at
iceberg lettuce growers and the processing facility in Mexico, the
agency said Friday. Samples from the on-site inspections are pending
analysis, the FDA said.
The outbreak cast a spotlight on a worsening problem: U.S.
regulators are conducting fewer international inspections to catch
contaminated produce before it lands on American plates.
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