Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Linked to Iceberg Lettuce

A significant multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis has impacted at least 1,645 people across the United States, with an additional 5,000 cases pending further testing. The illness has prompted scrutiny of produce, particularly lettuce, as health officials work to identify its source. Early investigations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce originating from a Taylor Farms de Mexico facility in central Mexico.

However, the FDA later announced that initial tests identifying the outbreak's source were a false positive. Despite this, Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled the implicated iceberg lettuce products. The FDA continues to recommend avoiding products subject to this recall. The iceberg lettuce remains the only identified source under investigation, with ongoing inquiries in both the United States and Mexico.

The recalled lettuce products were distributed between June 29 and July 16, with best-by dates extending through August 3. The recall encompasses various forms of the lettuce, including shredded, chopped, and salad mixes. These affected products were distributed to 27 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Products from the Marketside brand, which may originate from the same Mexican facility, have also been identified as potentially affected. Walmart, a retailer that carried these products, has proactively removed items suspected of being linked to the outbreak as a precautionary measure. Investigations into the precise origins and spread of the cyclosporiasis outbreak are still underway.