US health agencies respond to lettuce and jalapeño foodborne illness outbreaks

The United States is confronting two concurrent foodborne illness outbreaks. Health officials say a cyclosporiasis outbreak associated with shredded iceberg lettuce has resulted in at least 6,358 reported cases, 278 hospitalizations and two deaths, according to CDC data. The illnesses have been identified in 15 states, and the lettuce, sourced from central Mexico and distributed by Taylor Farms, was voluntarily recalled last month. The CDC also notes more than 22,000 cyclospora cases across 47 states, suggesting additional contaminated sources may be involved.

A separate salmonella outbreak linked to fresh jalapeños has produced 346 cases in 27 states, with 26 hospitalizations and no deaths reported. The jalapeños, grown in Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors, were removed from the supply chains of major restaurant chains, including Chipotle and Qdoba, after the FDA confirmed the recall.

Officials emphasize that tracing the source of infections is complex, especially for cyclosporiasis, whose symptoms can appear up to two weeks after exposure. State and local health departments, which conduct most of the investigative work, rely on federal funding that has declined in recent years. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a proposed $33 million increase in food safety funding to bolster domestic food safety activities, including response to parasitic diseases. HHS also indicated that the FDA plans to extend the compliance deadline for the Food Traceability Rule to July 20, 2028, to give regulated entities additional time to meet record-keeping requirements.