Updated July 23, 2026: This is a fluid situation. Health officials are still investigating several Cyclospora outbreaks, and the source of every case has not yet been confirmed.
The microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis has recently been linked with contaminated produce in the United States. Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness that can spread when people eat raw produce or drink water contaminated with the parasite. Fresh herbs, leafy greens, lettuce, berries, and other raw fruits and vegetables have been involved in past outbreaks. The incubation period typically ranges from 2 to 14 days, with an average of about 1 week.
One multistate outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Federal investigators traced that specific outbreak to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico and sourced from central Mexico. Taylor Farms voluntarily removed iceberg lettuce from central Mexico from the U.S. market.
However, the situation has become more complicated. The FDA first reported that one lettuce sample had tested positive for Cyclospora. After further review, the FDA said that result should be considered a false positive. As of the FDA’s update, there were no confirmed positive product test results for Cyclospora, although traceback and outbreak data still pointed to the recalled lettuce supply chain in that specific outbreak.
At the same time, health officials are investigating additional Cyclospora cases. Some newer cases have not yet been linked to a specific food. For this reason, it may be too narrow to focus only on lettuce. It is more accurate to think of this as an ongoing produce-related public health concern, with some cases tied to recalled lettuce and other cases still under investigation.
What Is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a tiny parasite that infects the intestines. People usually become sick after eating food or drinking water contaminated with the parasite.
Cyclospora is not usually spread directly from one person to another. After the parasite leaves the body, it often needs time in the environment before it can infect another person. This is one reason outbreaks are often traced to contaminated water, irrigation, or produce handling rather than person-to-person contact.
Symptoms can include watery diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, gas, weight loss, and sometimes fever. Symptoms may begin about one week after exposure, but they can also take longer. They may improve and then return.
If diarrhea lasts more than a few days, especially after eating raw produce or restaurant food connected with an outbreak, contact your health care provider. Cyclospora can be difficult to detect, and a provider may need to specifically request testing for it.
Why This Outbreak Is Hard to Track
Cyclospora outbreaks can be difficult to investigate. Fresh produce moves quickly through the food supply. By the time people become sick, the food they ate may already be gone. People may also have trouble remembering exactly what they ate one or two weeks earlier.
Testing can also be challenging. In this outbreak, the FDA re-reviewed a lettuce sample that was first reported as positive and later concluded it was a false positive. This does not mean the illness was not real. It means investigators must rely on several kinds of evidence, including interviews, traceback information, distribution records, and laboratory testing.
There are also broader concerns about foodborne illness tracking. CDC’s FoodNet program previously tracked Cyclospora and several other foodborne pathogens. As of July 1, 2025, FoodNet reporting became optional for all pathogens except Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. News reports and public health experts have also raised concerns that limited staffing and funding at federal food-safety agencies can make outbreak tracking more difficult.
What to Do Now
Avoid recalled produce. Do not eat any recalled lettuce or produce connected with an outbreak. If you are not sure whether a product was recalled, check the FDA recall list or discard it.
Be cautious with raw produce during an active outbreak. Since not every Cyclospora case has been tied to lettuce, consider being more careful with raw leafy greens, fresh herbs, berries, and other produce that is eaten uncooked.
Buy locally. Google “Farmer market near me” and “Farm stand near me”. These foods go straight from the grower to you, instead of traveling through a potentially contaminated food processing and distribution system. Also look for “locally grown” signs at your grocery store. Fruits and vegetables can travel thousands of miles to reach the store, with potential contamination at each step in the food distribution chain.
Start a kitchen garden outdoors at the start of the growing season or in a sunny indoor space.
Cook vegetables when possible. Steaming, stir-frying, blanching, or cooking fresh vegetables can reduce risk. Heat is more reliable than washing alone for killing parasites.
Do not rely on vinegar or rinsing alone. Washing produce under running water can help remove dirt and some surface contamination, but it may not eliminate Cyclospora. Vinegar rinses should not be relied on to make contaminated produce safe.
Wash and peel firm fruits and vegetables. For produce such as cucumbers, melons, carrots, and other firm items, scrub the outside under running water and peel when appropriate. This may help reduce surface contamination.
Keep kitchen surfaces clean. Wash cutting boards, knives, counters, refrigerator drawers, and containers that may have touched raw produce. Keep raw produce separate from raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs.
Choose cooked options when eating out. Until the outbreak picture is clearer, consider ordering cooked vegetables instead of raw salads, raw herbs, or uncooked toppings.
Watch for symptoms. Seek medical advice if you develop watery diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, cramps, bloating, or nausea. Symptoms can come and go. Tell your provider if you ate raw produce, salad, restaurant food, or any food connected with a recall within the incubation period.
Help public health officials track the outbreak. If you are diagnosed with cyclosporiasis, answer questions from your local health department. These interviews help investigators identify contaminated foods and protect others.
