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Record U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak is over, CDC says

CNBC • September 11, 2026 • general

Key Points:

The largest-ever cyclosporiasis outbreak in the U.S. has ended, with 12,833 people sickened across 21 states, according to the CDC.
The outbreak was linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms in Mexico and contributed to the worst cyclosporiasis season in U.S. history, totaling 19,595 cases.
Two deaths were reported in Michigan, the epicenter of the outbreak, highlighting the severity of the illness caused by the parasite cyclospora.
The outbreak prompted scrutiny of U.S. food safety protocols, corporate consolidation in the food supply, and the FDA's staffing and funding.
The incident negatively impacted sales of fresh lettuce at restaurants, especially Taco Bell, and grocery stores, while challenges in tracking the illness were due to cyclospora's long incubation period.