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The U.S. has declared an end to its largest-ever multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak, which was linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce. The outbreak sickened nearly 13,000 people across 21 states, resulting in 570 hospitalizations and 2 deaths. The CDC confirmed the implicated lettuce is no longer available in stores or restaurants and new infections have significantly declined.
The U.S. has officially closed the book on its largest recorded cyclosporiasis outbreak. Health authorities declared the end of the multistate outbreak on September 11, 2026, after a summer-long surge tied to contaminated iceberg lettuce — primarily sourced from Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico and served at Taco Bell restaurants — swept through 21 states.
The outbreak, which began in May 2026, exposed significant vulnerabilities in the U.S. public health infrastructure. State health departments — particularly in Michigan, the hardest-hit state — were overwhelmed, with local staff reassigned from routine duties like vaccinations and restaurant inspections to handle the crush of case investigations. Experts pointed to chronic underfunding of food safety programs and federal health agency cuts as factors that hampered the response and delayed identification of the contaminated source.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: This outbreak wasn't just a food safety crisis — it was a stress test for America's public health system, and experts say the system showed serious cracks. With federal health agency capacity strained and states forced to take on roles normally handled federally, the outbreak raises urgent questions about the country's readiness for the next major foodborne illness event.
