**Title: US Declares End of Largest Recorded Cyclosporiasis Outbreak**
**Date: September 11, 2026**
In a significant development, United States health authorities have officially declared the end of the largest recorded outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the nation’s history. The outbreak, which was linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce, resulted in nearly 13,000 reported cases across 21 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the conclusion of the outbreak on Friday, expressing confidence that all recalled lettuce associated with the incident has been removed from the market.
The CDC reported a total of 12,883 cases connected to the outbreak, which included 570 hospitalizations and two fatalities. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis typically manifest about a week after consuming contaminated food or water, with common symptoms including frequent, watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, and extreme fatigue.
The outbreak was traced back to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico by Taylor Farms de Mexico. The company initiated a recall of all iceberg lettuce from the affected region on July 17, following initial reports linking the contaminated product to Taco Bell locations. Federal investigators later confirmed that the implicated lettuce was distributed by Taylor Farms to various restaurants and retailers throughout the United States.
At the peak of the outbreak, the CDC recorded over 1,000 new infections in a single day. However, by August, reported infections had significantly declined, averaging fewer than two new cases per day. This outbreak was part of a broader surge in cyclosporiasis cases nationwide, with nearly 20,000 laboratory-confirmed cases reported in the U.S. since May 1, marking a dramatic increase compared to the previous year, which saw just over 1,200 cases during the same timeframe. The previous record for annual cases was set in 2019, with approximately 4,700 reported illnesses.
Michigan emerged as the state most severely affected by the outbreak, accounting for both of the reported deaths. The incident has reignited discussions regarding food safety regulations in the U.S., particularly concerning the government’s capacity to detect contaminated produce before it reaches consumers.
Concerns have been raised about the decline in inspections of foreign food facilities by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA is mandated to inspect over 19,000 international food sites each year, but inspections have plummeted in recent years. In 2019, the agency conducted a record 1,700 inspections, which is less than one-tenth of the target. Notably, the Mexican farm implicated in the outbreak was not inspected until approximately a month after the investigation commenced.
Additionally, the Trump administration had previously scaled back the FoodNet program, which tracked Cyclospora and other pathogens. There have also been delays in implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act rule aimed at improving traceability for high-risk foods, including leafy greens, with a new deadline set for 2028.
In response to the outbreak, the FDA has completed on-site inspections and sample collections at iceberg lettuce farms and processing facilities in Mexico, although laboratory analysis of those samples is still pending. The agency has committed to continuing its collaboration with state and federal officials in Mexico to further investigate the outbreak.
As the nation moves forward from this unprecedented outbreak, the focus remains on enhancing food safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The CDC and FDA are expected to face increased scrutiny regarding their protocols and the effectiveness of current food safety regulations in safeguarding public health.