Between May 1 and Aug. 4, 10,468 lab-confirmed cases and 12,255 suspected cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in the United States. Cyclospora cayetanensis is a single-celled parasite that causes an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include watery diarrhea, nausea, and cramping.

"This is the largest documented cyclosporiasis outbreak in US history," public health scientist Jessica Steier said in an email. On average, there have been around 3,600 cases of cyclosporiasis in each of the past few years.

A recall of Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce was issued on July 17. Taylor Fresh Foods, Inc. doing business as Taylor Farms, is an American-based producer of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables based in Salinas, California. As of 2009, Taylor Farms was ranked as the world's largest salad and fresh-cut vegetable processor. The company has more than 25,000 employees and 30 processing plants.

"This particular outbreak traces back to a single independent farm in central Mexico that Taylor Farms estimates supplies under 1% of the U.S. iceberg [lettuce] supply," Steier said. "One contamination event, on one farm, growing product that gets shredded and distributed nationally through food service is enough to produce thousands of illnesses and isn't necessarily a trend." She added that for the large majority of Americans, the risk right now is very low.

"Cyclosporiasis reported in 47 different states is not the same thing as an outbreak in 47 states, and media coverage doesn't reflect that distinction," she said. PureSource News previously reported that some Texas Taco Bell locations stopped serving lettuce and cilantro temporarily. "Clear and frequent communication with the public is really important in outbreaks like these, to make sure consumers are getting accurate information and have clear steps of what to do," food safety scientist at North Carolina State University Ellen Shumaker said in an email.

In July 2028, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will require companies to maintain more detailed records tracking food products across the supply chain. Cyclosporiasis was first detected in the United States in 1985 in four travelers who had returned to New York from Haiti and Mexico. The first U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak occurred in Illinois in 1990 with 21 cases associated with contaminated tap water. In 1999, cyclosporiasis became a nationally notifiable disease in the United States.

Midwest Poultry Services recalled white shell eggs and brown, cage-free shell eggs with best-by dates between July 20 and Aug. 17 due to a Salmonella outbreak. The recalled eggs were sold under the brand names Country Morning, Cal-Maine Sunups, Brookshire's, Simple Truth, and Kroger.

The recalled eggs were shipped to Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Midwest Poultry Services recalled more than 1.5 million dozen containers of shell eggs.

Taylor Fresh Foods issued a recall for multiple products made with jalapeños with "Best If Used By" dates up to and including Aug. 16. A second Salmonella outbreak has been tied to fresh jalapeño peppers. Eight multistate Salmonella outbreaks are linked to contact with backyard chickens and ducks.

The outbreaks connected to backyard poultry involve 814 people in 44 states. As of July 27, 201 people in the backyard poultry outbreaks required hospital care, and one person died.

A Salmonella outbreak tied to children handling pet veiled chameleons started in February and the investigation was declared over in June. Two children got sick in Nebraska, and single cases were reported in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas in the chameleon-associated Salmonella outbreak. Two children were hospitalized in the chameleon-associated Salmonella outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that Salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections every year, with about 420 deaths.

Timeline

As of July 24, there have been 98 confirmed Salmonella cases across 17 states linked to the Midwest Poultry Services eggs, including 26 hospitalizations and no deaths. As of July 27, 201 people in the backyard poultry outbreaks required hospital care, and one person died. Between May 1 and Aug.

4, 10,468 lab-confirmed cases and 12,255 suspected cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in the United States. As of Aug. 5, over 6,300 cases of cyclosporiasis across 15 states have been linked to the Taylor Farms lettuce outbreak.

What's New

As of Aug. 5, there have been 345 cases of Salmonella linked to jalapeño peppers in 27 states, with 36 known hospitalizations. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that Salmonella causes about 1.35 million infections every year, with about 420 deaths.

Midwest Poultry Services recalled more than 1.5 million dozen containers of shell eggs. PureSource News previously reported that some Texas Taco Bell locations stopped serving lettuce and cilantro temporarily.

How Sources Differ

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outbreak report stated that as of July 24, there have been 98 confirmed Salmonella cases across 17 states linked to the Midwest Poultry Services eggs, including 26 hospitalizations and no deaths. The Food and Drug Administration recall notice stated that Midwest Poultry Services recalled more than 1.5 million dozen containers of shell eggs.

Why It Matters

This event represents the largest documented cyclosporiasis outbreak in U.S. history, with case counts exceeding the annual average of around 3,600 cases observed in recent years. The scale of the outbreak, involving over 6,300 cases across 15 states linked to a single supplier, shows the potential for widespread impact when a national distributor sources from a specific farm.

The concurrent Salmonella outbreaks linked to eggs, jalapeños, and backyard poultry illustrate the ongoing presence of multiple foodborne illness vectors. Regulatory changes scheduled for July 2028 will require more detailed supply chain records, aiming to improve traceability and response capabilities for future incidents.