Cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce expands to 9 states

The scope of a sprawling cyclosporiasis outbreak intensified this Friday, July 24, 2026, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that four additional states are now included in the investigation. Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania have been added to the previous list of impacted regions, which already included Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

This development marks the largest known instance of the diarrheal illness in the country. Investigators have linked the infections to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico. The product, which was distributed to various food services, retailers, and restaurants, has been the focus of an active investigation involving both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and health authorities in Mexico. Federal officials report that 1,947 individuals across the nine states have been infected after dining at Taco Bell locations. While no deaths have been documented in this specific cluster, at least 98 hospitalizations have been recorded. Illnesses tied to the lettuce supply began on June 22 and continued through July 20. In response, the restaurant chain has ceased the use of any lettuce sourced from the Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico.

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Outbreak Context and Case Numbers

The national impact of the parasite has grown significantly throughout the summer. As of Wednesday, July 22, the CDC had received reports of more than 11,500 total cases of cyclosporiasis across 41 states. This figure includes at least 4,173 laboratory-confirmed illnesses and approximately 7,400 additional cases currently under review. The agency noted that these tallies likely underrepresent the true scale of the outbreak, as many individuals recover without seeking medical attention or testing.

The situation remains particularly severe in Michigan. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the state has recorded 8,176 cases, with 160 hospitalizations. Cases have been identified in 70 of Michigan's 82 counties. She described the current scale of the illness as unprecedented, noting that while the transmission curve appears to be plateauing, the long incubation period of the parasite complicates efforts to confirm a decline.

Investigation and Recall Status

The origin of the contamination continues to be a point of scrutiny. Taylor Farms de Mexico has completed a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico that was shipped to 27 states. The recalled items were distributed between June 29 and July 16, with expiration dates reaching as far as August 3. The parasite is commonly spread when produce is irrigated or washed with water contaminated with human feces.

Conflicting information regarding laboratory testing previously caused confusion. The FDA initially reported a positive result for a sample of shredded lettuce, only to retract it as a false positive after further review. Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas maintained that despite the error, the agency's findings linking the outbreak to the supply chain in central Mexico remain unchanged. Conversely, Mexican health officials conducted inspections at the Taylor Farms plant in the state of Guanajuato between July 18 and 20. Those authorities stated that they did not detect the parasite in the 10 samples of iceberg lettuce or the four water samples collected during their visit.

What to Watch Next

• Monitoring Symptoms: The parasite has an incubation period ranging from two days to more than two weeks. Common indicators include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, cramping, nausea, and fatigue.
• Investigation Scope: The CDC continues to investigate several other, unrelated clusters of cyclosporiasis across the country, suggesting that other brands or distribution channels could be involved in separate outbreaks.
• Data Updates: As the season progresses, health departments remain cautious about the potential for further case reports due to reporting delays.