Cyclospora lettuce update: FDA issues strongest warning, adds 3 more states

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday classified recalled lettuce linked to a widespread cyclospora outbreak at the highest possible risk level, as it confirmed illnesses in three additional states.

The agency classified the iceberg lettuce products recalled by California-based produce giant Taylor Farms for possible cyclospora contamination as “Class 1,” which the agency defines as “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

The company in July recalled iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico. The recall listed shredded lettuce and salad mix products that were sold under several different brand codes and were shipped to 27 states through July 16, with “best by” dates as late as August 3. A Taylor Farms spokesperson told Newsweek that all affected lettuce is off the market.

Newsweek has contacted the FDA for comment.

The FDA on Thursday said three new states—Georgia, Tennessee and Texas—have been added to the list of states tied to the outbreak, bringing the number of states affected to 20.

The list already included: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The number of confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis—the gastrointestinal illness caused by the diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora—in those states was 11,458 as of Thursday, including 495 people who had to be hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Michigan, the state hardest hit by the outbreak, reported the first two deaths tied to the outbreak earlier in August.

The FDA linked shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell to the outbreak, and said it was focused on Taylor Farms as the source of the lettuce.

On Thursday, the FDA said it is continuing to inspect and test produce at the farms and processing facility in Mexico in cooperation with officials from the Mexican government. “FDA remains confident that all recalled iceberg lettuce related to this specific cyclospora outbreak is off the market,” the agency said.

A Taylor Farms spokesperson told Newsweek that all affected lettuce is off the market, and that Taylor Farms products “on grocery store shelves are not involved in the recall and safe to enjoy.”

The spokesperson said: “When questions were raised about the source of the recent Cyclospora outbreak, we immediately removed all potentially implicated product from the marketplace, and out of an abundance of caution we issued an even broader recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from the region. We have also voluntarily suspended all iceberg lettuce sourcing and production from central Mexico.

“Additionally, we’ve commissioned independent experts to conduct a top-to-bottom review of food safety processes and protocols in our central Mexico facility, where as of July 18, 2026 we have temporarily suspended production of all products. We continue to work with health authorities, customers, and independent farming partners to address this issue.”

There have been “no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora as of August 13, 2026,'” the spokesperson added. “We are confident in our food and safety systems and will continue to be transparent as more information becomes available.”

Taco Bell said in a statement on July 17 that it had “completed removal” of affected Taylor Farms lettuce from our restaurants.

“Based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell worked swiftly to voluntarily remove the product from restaurants and the affected ingredient has been removed from our supply chain nationwide. We took this action to ensure our guests can enjoy their Taco Bell favorites safely,” it said.

Federal and state health authorities are also investigating several other clusters of cyclosporiasis to determine how many could be linked to a common contaminated source.

In its latest update, the CDC said it has received reports of 17,180 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the U.S. since May 1, including 922 hospitalizations and two deaths. Cases have been reported in 48 states plus the District of Columbia. The patients range in age from 1 to 99 years, and a majority (56 percent) were female.

The CDC said it is aware of at least 11,844 additional cases that have not been laboratory-confirmed or require further investigation to determine if they were acquired domestically.

This year is the nation’s worst year for reported cases of cyclosporiasis. Last year, 1,180 cases were reported in the U.S. between May 1 and August 31.

What Is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water.

When ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the CDC.

Outbreaks tend to occur most often in the late spring and summer.

How Many Cases Aren’t Reported?

The CDC said the official count represented only laboratory-confirmed cases, and that state data may include probable and confirmed cases, which could lead to higher case counts than what the CDC reports.

The CDC also said the true number of illnesses is likely even higher because some people recover without seeking medical care and are not tested, leaving many infections outside official tallies.

Cyclosporiasis Diagnosis and Treatment

Symptoms generally develop about a week after exposure. They can appear between two days and two weeks or longer afterward.

Without treatment, the illness may persist for more than a month, and symptoms can disappear before returning, according to the CDC.

Cyclosporiasis is diagnosed through stool testing, but detecting the parasite may require several samples and specialized tests that are not routinely performed.

The standard treatment is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, an antibiotic combination commonly sold as Bactrim or Septra. Rest and fluids are also important, particularly for patients experiencing diarrhea. People with weakened immune systems may be more likely to develop severe or prolonged illness.

Medical University of South Carolina Health infectious diseases specialist Scott Curry, M.D., said cyclosporiasis can be difficult to diagnose because “regular stool cultures, the normal way to test people with bad diarrhea, don’t catch cyclosporiasis.”