Federal Health Officials Monitor Multistate Parasite Outbreak Linked to Lettuce

Federal health authorities are currently investigating five separate clusters of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the *Cyclospora cayetanensis* parasite. Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas confirmed during a press briefing on Monday that while three of these clusters are considered resolved, the largest remains active.

This primary outbreak has been epidemiologically linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. According to the CDC, 1,644 infections have been confirmed in connection with this specific cluster. Michigan has reported the highest impact, with state health officials noting 6,148 cases as of Monday morning.

In response to the investigation, Taylor Farms de Mexico initiated a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The recall, which covers products distributed between June 29 and July 16, affects 27 states. Taco Bell has confirmed that it has discontinued the use of lettuce from the supplier at all of its restaurant locations.

Confusion arose over the weekend when the FDA initially reported that a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce had tested positive for the parasite. The agency later retracted this finding, labeling it a false positive. Taylor Farms stated that the FDA acknowledged the error, emphasizing that the company has not had a single confirmed positive product test during the investigation. Despite the correction, the FDA maintains that the epidemiological evidence supporting the recall remains robust and that their traceback efforts continue to point toward the central Mexican supply chain.

Health officials caution that the official case counts likely underrepresent the true scale of the outbreak, as many individuals recover without seeking medical intervention or formal testing. Beyond the primary cluster, the CDC is monitoring other unrelated cases, including 440 infections reported by travelers who fell ill after consuming food or water outside the United States. The FDA continues to coordinate with state partners to ensure that all implicated products are removed from the marketplace.