A multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce has expanded to 15 states, with federal health officials reporting 6,358 illnesses, at least 278 hospitalizations and two deaths as of their latest update.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention traced the outbreak to iceberg lettuce, both whole and shredded, processed by Taylor Farms de Mexico and grown in central Mexico. The company recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17, including Marketside-brand product sold at Walmart, after multiple lots were distributed to retailers, restaurants and consumers across the affected states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Carolina. Illness onset dates ranged from June 22 to July 31. Both deaths occurred in Michigan, in people with underlying health conditions.
Taco Bell was identified early in the investigation as a point of exposure and has since discontinued use of Taylor Farms de Mexico lettuce at its locations. The CDC has urged consumers not to eat any recalled lettuce still in their homes: "If you purchased recalled lettuce, throw it out or return it." The Food and Drug Administration has cautioned that the true number of illnesses is likely higher than reported, since it can take up to six weeks for state and federal officials to confirm whether a sick person belongs to the outbreak — meaning the case count is expected to keep climbing.
The outbreak is already described as the largest known U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak on record, well surpassing the roughly 4,700 cases reported nationally in 2019, the previous worst year for the parasitic infection. Cyclospora cayetanensis, the single-celled parasite responsible, causes watery diarrhea, cramping, fatigue and weight loss that can persist for weeks without treatment; it spreads through contaminated food or water rather than person to person.
Federal and state investigators continue their traceback work, and both the case count and the list of affected states are expected to grow before the outbreak is declared over. Health officials are urging anyone who develops persistent gastrointestinal symptoms after eating iceberg lettuce in recent weeks to contact a healthcare provider, since cyclosporiasis typically requires antibiotic treatment to resolve.
