CDC declares end of record cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to Taylor Farms lettuce

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that the nation’s largest cyclosporiasis outbreak has concluded. The foodborne illness affected 12,833 individuals across 21 states, with health officials identifying shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms in Mexico as the source. The episode contributed to a total of 19,595 cyclospora cases nationwide, the highest seasonal count on record, and resulted in two deaths in Michigan, the state most heavily impacted.

The outbreak prompted renewed examination of U.S. food safety protocols, the concentration of produce suppliers, and resource allocation at the Food and Drug Administration. It also coincided with reduced lettuce sales at restaurants, including a major fast-food chain that used the implicated product, and a decline in grocery store lettuce purchases. Cyclospora’s long incubation period made tracing the contamination difficult, as the parasite can take weeks to manifest symptoms, complicating timely identification of the contaminated produce.

"The investigation highlighted the challenges of detecting cyclospora due to its extended incubation period," a CDC spokesperson said.

Authorities continue to monitor for any related cases as part of ongoing surveillance efforts.