North Carolina Cyclospora Cases Linked to Parsley, Cilantro and Lettuce, Officials Say
Health officials in North Carolina reported 561 cyclospora infections since May, noting parsley, cilantro and lettuce as possible sources while the FDA continues investigations into multiple outbreaks.
North Carolina health officials said that recent cyclospora infections appear to be associated with parsley, cilantro and lettuce, after interviewing patients about their recent meals. The state has recorded 561 cases since May 1, nearly twice the total reported in all of 2025.
“We have not noticed that association here,” said Carl Williams of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, adding that investigators have found the three foods repeatedly mentioned in ingredient-level analyses. He emphasized that the findings are preliminary and no definitive source has been confirmed.
The Food and Drug Administration announced a separate investigation of a cluster involving at least 72 illnesses linked to an unidentified product, and said it is tracing the source of that outbreak. The agency is currently handling six cyclospora investigations this summer, with only one linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants in several states.
State officials have sent several hundred stool samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for genetic testing, which has identified some clusters within North Carolina but is still pending further results. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is not conducting testing of lettuce products related to the outbreak, and a department spokesperson declined to comment on the FDA’s involvement.