Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can contaminate food or water. Infection causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis. The most common symptom is watery diarrhea, which may be frequent, persistent or recurring. Other symptoms can include: - Stomach cramps or pain - Bloating and increased gas - Nausea - Loss of appetite - Weight loss - Fatigue - Vomiting - Body aches - Headache - Low-grade fever Symptoms usually begin approximately one week after exposure, although the interval may range from two days to 14 days or longer. Untreated symptoms may appear to improve and then return.

Cyclospora Outbreak Declared Over: Where Are We Now?

Anthonette Young

Sep 13

4 min read

CDC declares Cyclospora outbreak associated with Taylor Farms de Mexico over

Updated September 13, 2026

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared the multistate Cyclospora outbreak associated with Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce over. However, the Food and Drug Administration is continuing its investigation into how the contamination occurred.

According to FDA’s September 11 update, the outbreak included:

12,883 laboratory-confirmed illnesses
570 hospitalizations
Two deaths
Cases reported across 21 states
A last known illness onset date of August 17, 2026

These figures apply specifically to the multistate outbreak linked to processed iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. They should not be confused with broader national Cyclospora surveillance figures, which may include illnesses connected to other or unidentified sources.

What Does It Mean When an Outbreak Is Declared Over?

Declaring an outbreak over means public-health officials are no longer seeing evidence of continuing illnesses associated with the identified source.

It does not necessarily mean that investigators have answered every question about how the food became contaminated.

The recalled lettuce had best-by dates ranging from July 18 through August 3, depending on the product. FDA says the affected lettuce should no longer be available in stores or restaurants. Taco Bell also stopped using lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico on July 17.

Based on the available evidence, consumers are not being advised to avoid iceberg lettuce generally.

Why Is FDA Still Investigating?

FDA conducted inspections and collected samples from iceberg-lettuce growers and the processing facility in Mexico, working with Mexican officials. The onsite inspections and sample collection have ended, but laboratory analysis of the samples was still pending when FDA released its September 11 update.

This means two things can be true at once:

The outbreak is over because officials are no longer identifying continuing illnesses from the recalled lettuce.
The investigation remains open because FDA is still trying to understand how the contamination occurred and how future outbreaks can be prevented.

How Did the Investigation Develop?

The outbreak was initially associated with people who reported eating at Taco Bell locations in several states. Ingredient-level analysis pointed toward shredded iceberg lettuce, and FDA’s traceback investigation converged on Taylor Farms de Mexico as the supplier.

The investigation later expanded beyond Taco Bell customers. It included people who reported exposure to processed Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce purchased or served through other locations.

Taylor Farms voluntarily removed iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the United States market and initiated a recall on July 17.

Recalled Marketside products sold at select Walmart stores included certain sizes of Iceberg Salad and Shredded Lettuce. Other affected products were distributed to food-service customers.

Why Did the Case Count Continue Rising After the Recall?

Most of the illnesses included in the final count began before the July 17 recall.

Identifying and confirming an outbreak-associated illness can take several weeks. A person must seek medical care, receive the appropriate test, obtain a positive result and then be interviewed so investigators can determine whether the illness belongs to a particular outbreak.

This reporting delay explains why the number of confirmed illnesses continued to increase even after the contaminated product was believed to be off the market. It did not necessarily mean that people were continuing to become sick from lettuce still being sold.

The final reported count may also underestimate the number of people who were actually infected. Some people recover without medical care, and others may never be tested specifically for Cyclospora.

What Is Cyclospora?

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can contaminate food or water. Infection causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis.

The most common symptom is watery diarrhea, which may be frequent, persistent or recurring. Other symptoms can include:

Stomach cramps or pain
Bloating and increased gas
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Fatigue
Vomiting
Body aches
Headache
Low-grade fever

Symptoms usually begin approximately one week after exposure, although the interval may range from two days to 14 days or longer. Untreated symptoms may appear to improve and then return.

Should Someone With Symptoms Still Seek Care?

Yes. Although the outbreak has been declared over, anyone experiencing persistent or recurring symptoms should contact a healthcare provider.

Routine stool examinations do not always include Cyclospora. A healthcare provider may need to request Cyclospora testing specifically, and more than one stool sample may sometimes be required.

Cyclosporiasis is treatable with prescription medication. People with weakened immune systems, older adults and children may face a greater risk of severe illness or dehydration.

The FDA advises people to seek medical care, particularly when diarrhea or other severe symptoms last longer than three days.

What Consumers Should Know Going Forward

FDA says the recalled lettuce should no longer be on the market. Consumers do not need to search stores for the old recalled packages, and this investigation does not amount to a warning against all iceberg lettuce.

Nevertheless, Cyclospora remains an important seasonal food-safety concern. Washing produce under clean running water is appropriate, but washing may not completely remove the parasite. Cyclospora can also resist standard chlorine-based produce sanitizers.

FDA advises consumers to:

Rinse fresh produce under clean running water.
Discard the outer two or three layers of leafy greens when possible.
Keep produce away from contaminated surfaces and utensils.
Wash hands with soap and warm water before and after handling food.
Never use soap or bleach to wash fruits or vegetables.
Cook suitable produce to at least 158°F, which FDA identifies as the safest option for destroying Cyclospora.

The Bottom Line

The immediate market risk associated with the recalled Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce has ended, according to federal officials.

The outbreak’s scale—12,883 confirmed illnesses, 570 hospitalizations and two deaths—shows why accurate testing, timely reporting and careful produce-safety controls matter.

CDC has closed the outbreak from a public-health case-tracking standpoint. FDA is still investigating the contamination and moving into post-outbreak prevention work.

The outbreak may be over, but understanding what caused it remains essential to preventing the next one.