CDC Declares End to Record Cyclosporiasis Outbreak From Lettuce
The largest U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak on record, tied to Taylor Farms shredded lettuce, is over after sickening 12,000-plus people.
Federal health officials declared an end to the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak ever recorded in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced. The parasitic illness swept through the country after being linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, leaving more than 12,000 Americans sick.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which infects the small intestine and typically causes prolonged, watery diarrhea along with fatigue and loss of appetite. Outbreaks historically have been tied to fresh produce, making contaminated salad greens a recurring and difficult-to-control vector for the pathogen.
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The scale of this outbreak set it apart from prior incidents, with the case count surpassing any previously documented U.S. episode of the illness. Taylor Farms, a major commercial produce supplier, was identified as the source of the contaminated shredded lettuce that reached consumers across the country.
Food safety experts note that outbreaks of this magnitude underscore persistent vulnerabilities in large-scale leafy-green supply chains, where a single contamination point can affect tens of thousands of consumers before the source is identified and products are pulled from shelves. The CDC's declaration that the outbreak is over offers relief to public health officials who had been tracking the spread for weeks.
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