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News
The FDA has officially declared the largest Cyclospora food poisoning outbreak in U.S. history over, linked to recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in Mexico. Nearly 13,000 cases were tied to the multistate outbreak across 21 states, with two deaths in Michigan. Despite the outbreak being contained, its exact origin remains unknown — and experts warn that declining international food inspections could make future outbreaks harder to prevent.
The FDA has officially declared the largest Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history over, confirming that all recalled iceberg lettuce tied to the multistate outbreak has been pulled from the market. The outbreak spanned 21 states and was traced to iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico by Taylor Farms — a major supplier whose products reached restaurant chains including Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC. Michigan was the hardest-hit state, accounting for the bulk of cases and both U.S. deaths linked to the outbreak.
Despite the outbreak being declared over, investigators still don't know exactly how the lettuce became contaminated. Cyclospora spreads through human feces, and officials have yet to pinpoint how sewage reached enough produce to sicken so many people. The FDA has ended on-site inspections in Mexico, though lab samples are still pending analysis.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: The outbreak has exposed a critical vulnerability in the U.S. food safety system — regulators are conducting fewer international inspections of produce before it reaches American consumers. With Cyclospora also removed from the CDC's core foodborne illness tracking program last year, experts warn that the infrastructure needed to detect and respond to future outbreaks is weakening at exactly the wrong time.
