CDC Declares Record Cyclospora Lettuce Outbreak Over As FDA Lab Tests Continue
On Friday, September 11, 2026, the CDC declared the Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce over, saying recent infections have significantly declined and that recalled lettuce is off the U.S. market.[1]
Federal officials attribute nearly 13,000 reported Cyclospora cases in 21 states to the Taylor Farms iceberg-lettuce outbreak, including more than 570 hospitalizations and two deaths concentrated mainly in Michigan.[1] Since May 1, 2026, CDC has received reports of nearly 20,000 lab-confirmed U.S. cyclospora cases and more than 6,100 suspected illnesses, making 2026 the worst year on record.[1] The Taylor Farms recall covered thousands of packaged salad products containing iceberg lettuce that were shipped to restaurant chains including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC.[1]
Investigators linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce processed by Taylor Farms de Mexico and sourced from central Mexico, but they have not determined exactly how contamination occurred.[2] The FDA said it has ended on-site inspections and sample collection at growers and the Taylor Farms processing facility, while laboratory analyses of those samples remain pending.[2] Officials reiterated that Cyclospora contamination can occur when produce is grown in soil or contacted by water tainted with human feces.[1]
Reporting before the outbreak highlighted years of declining FDA foreign inspections, a context some analysts say raised questions about oversight of imported produce.[3] Officials say CDC's closure of the outbreak does not end the FDA's technical investigation, and the agency continues lab testing to try to pinpoint the contamination source.[4]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, September 11, 2026, the CDC formally declared the Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms lettuce to be over, saying recent infections have significantly declined (CDC).
- CDC said there is no longer a risk of cyclosporiasis from the recalled iceberg lettuce and is confident all outbreak-related lettuce is off the U.S. market (recalled iceberg lettuce).
- Federal officials attribute nearly 13,000 reported Cyclospora cases in 21 states to the Taylor Farms iceberg‑lettuce outbreak, including more than 570 hospitalizations and two deaths concentrated mainly in Michigan (nearly 13,000 reported Cyclospora cases).
- Since May 1, 2026, CDC has received reports of nearly 20,000 lab‑confirmed U.S. cyclospora cases and more than 6,100 suspected cases, making 2026 the worst year on record for cyclospora infections (nearly 20,000 lab-confirmed U.S. cyclospora cases).
- The Taylor Farms recall covered thousands of packaged salad products containing iceberg lettuce that were shipped to major restaurant chains including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC (all owned by Yum Brands) (Taylor Farms recall).
- The FDA said on September 11 that it has ended on‑site inspections and sample collection at iceberg‑lettuce growers and the Taylor Farms processing facility in central Mexico, but laboratory analysis of those samples is still pending as the agency continues its investigation (FDA).
- Investigators have not determined precisely how the lettuce became contaminated, but officials reiterated that Cyclospora contamination can occur when produce is grown in soil or contacted by water tainted with human feces (Cyclospora contamination).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Friday, September 11, 2026, federal health officials said the largest cyclospora food poisoning outbreak in U.S. history is over and that all recalled iceberg lettuce tied to this outbreak is off the market.
- Officials now attribute nearly 13,000 reported cyclospora cases to the 21-state iceberg-lettuce outbreak and report nearly 20,000 lab-confirmed U.S. cyclospora cases plus more than 6,100 suspected cases since May 1, 2026, reinforcing this as the worst year on record.
- The Food and Drug Administration said it has ended on-site inspections and sample collection at iceberg lettuce growers and the Taylor Farms processing facility in central Mexico; laboratory analysis of those samples is still pending.
- Investigators reiterate that the outbreak was linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce served at chains including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, but say the precise contamination mechanism remains unknown, beyond likely exposure to soil or water tainted with human feces.
- Michigan remains identified as the hardest-hit state in the outbreak, with the most reported illnesses and the two U.S. deaths tied to this event.
- On Friday, September 11, 2026, CDC said there is no longer a risk of cyclosporiasis from the recalled iceberg lettuce and is confident all outbreak-related lettuce is off the U.S. market.
- FDA said September 11 that while the outbreak is over, it is continuing its investigation of cyclospora infections linked to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico, and that on-site inspections and sample collection in Mexico have now ended with lab analyses pending.
- Federal officials now attribute nearly 13,000 reported cyclospora cases in 21 states to this specific iceberg-lettuce outbreak, with more than 570 hospitalizations and two deaths, primarily in Michigan.
- Since May 1, 2026, CDC has received reports of nearly 20,000 lab-confirmed U.S. cyclospora cases and more than 6,100 additional suspected cases, over 16 times the number reported in the same period last year.
- Officials say 2019 was previously the worst U.S. year for cyclospora with about 4,700 illnesses, underscoring that 2026 is now the largest year on record largely because of this 21‑state lettuce outbreak.
- The article specifies that the Taylor Farms recall covered thousands of packaged salad products combining iceberg lettuce with other vegetables, shipped to major restaurant chains including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC, all owned by Yum Brands.
- Investigators still have not determined how sewage contaminated enough iceberg lettuce to cause the outbreak, but experts reiterate that cyclospora contamination can occur when produce is grown in soil or contacted by water tainted with human feces.
- On Friday, September 11, 2026, the CDC formally declared the Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms lettuce to be over.
- CDC said in its September 11 update that recent infections linked to the outbreak have significantly declined.
- CDC stated that the contaminated lettuce associated with this outbreak is no longer available in stores or restaurants.
- The article notes that, despite CDC closing the outbreak, the FDA says its investigation into the incident remains ongoing.