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CDC Declares End to Historic Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Linked to Taylor Farms Lettuce
Consumer Non-Durables · Food: Major Diversified · cnbc · 2026-09-11
The CDC confirms the conclusion of the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak in U.S. history, which caused nearly 20,000 illnesses and two fatalities.
What Happened
Outbreak Resolution and Scope: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially declared the end of the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak ever recorded in the United States. The event resulted in 19,595 total cases of the parasitic illness, marking the most severe season for the condition in national history.
Source Identification and Impact: Health investigators successfully traced the primary cluster of 12,833 infections across 21 states to shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms in Mexico. The outbreak caused significant public health concern, particularly in Michigan, which served as the epicenter for the majority of the reported cases.
Casualties and Public Health Response: The parasite cyclospora caused two confirmed deaths during the outbreak, both occurring within the state of Michigan. Federal health officials monitored the situation closely as the infection count climbed, eventually identifying the specific food supply chain link responsible for the contamination.
Ongoing Surveillance: While the specific outbreak has concluded, the CDC continues to monitor foodborne illness trends to ensure consumer safety and prevent future clusters. The scale of this event highlights the persistent risks associated with large-scale produce distribution and the importance of rapid traceback investigations in food safety.