Updated July 29, 2026: : CDC and FDA report a nine-state Cyclospora outbreak involving 1,947 people who reported Taco Bell exposure in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Ninety-eight patients were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported. Illnesses began from June 22 through July 20, 2026.
The nine-state outbreak is one part of the broader 2026 increase. CDC reports 6,707 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases in 45 states, including 423 hospitalizations and no deaths, and is reviewing more than 11,500 additional reports.
Public health agencies link the nine-state outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell. The Washington Post first reported on July 16 that investigators had identified Taylor Farms as the likely supplier of the lettuce under investigation, citing two people familiar with the investigation.
Taylor Farms de Mexico voluntarily recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The recall includes lettuce distributed to restaurants and other foodservice customers, along with Marketside bagged lettuce sold at select Walmart stores.
FDA initially reported that a lettuce sample collected at the border tested positive for Cyclospora, but later determined that it was a false positive. FDA says the false-positive sample did not change the basis for its investigation or the evidence supporting the voluntary recall. No product sample had a confirmed positive Cyclospora result as of July 19.
Michigan separately reports 10,077 cases under its broader state investigation. MDHHS says lettuce or salad greens may be a potential source, but other foods have not been ruled out and no specific grower or supplier has been identified as the source of every Michigan case.
For people who are sick, the uncertainty is frustrating. Cyclospora can cause prolonged, relapsing diarrhea that makes it difficult to work, travel, care for family, or keep up with normal life. For investigators, the challenge is different: they need to connect patients, foods, restaurants, grocery stores, distributors, and suppliers before records fade and perishable produce disappears from the marketplace.
Pritzker Hageman’s Cyclospora lawyers are monitoring these investigations closely. Our food safety team has represented clients in Cyclospora outbreaks linked to restaurants, grocery stores, bagged salad, vegetable trays, herbs, berries, and other fresh produce.
Current Cyclospora outbreak snapshot
- Confirmed five-state outbreak: CDC and FDA say at least 1,947 people in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are connected to a large multistate outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell. Illnesses began on or after June 22, 2026 and onset dates have continued through July 20, 2026. Ninety-eight people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
- National Surveillance: CDC reports 6,707 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases in 45 states, 423 hospitalizations, no deaths, and more than 11,500 additional reports requiring confirmation and analysis. These national figures include the Taco Bell-linked outbreak as well as Cyclospora illnesses that may be associated with other sources.
- Separate unknown-source outbreak: The FDA is investigating an active 93-case Cyclospora outbreak investigation (reference 1392) linked to a not yet identified product. The food and affected states have not been identified. FDA has not announced a recall or a specific product warning for this investigation.
- Michigan: MDHHS reports 10,077 cases as of July 28. As of July 23, 160 reported patients indicated that they had been hospitalized. The statewide total is updated each weekday, while hospitalization and detailed outbreak data are updated weekly. Michigan officials say lettuce or salad greens may be a potential source.
- Taco Bell link: CDC and FDA have confirmed that the outbreak is linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at certain Taco Bell restaurants in the five affected states. Taco Bell has committed to stop using lettuce from the supplier identified through FDA’s traceback investigation. FDA says not every Taco Bell location in the affected states received the implicated lettuce.
- FDA: FDA’s CORE outbreak table continues to list active Cyclospora traceback investigations involving products that have not yet been identified.
Michigan remains the center of the broader U.S. Cyclospora surge
Michigan’s publicly reported total rose from more than 170 cases on June 30 to 10,077 cases on July 29. As of July 23, 160 reported patients indicated that they had been hospitalized. The state total is broader than the federal Taco Bell outbreak and should not be added to CDC’s national surveillance count.
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Michigan Interviews Point to Lettuce Across Multiple Settings
MDHHS says it has interviewed more than 2,900 people affected by the Michigan outbreak. Many did not report eating lettuce at a chain restaurant or another food establishment. Lettuce still appeared frequently in questionnaires from people without restaurant or fast-food exposure.
MDHHS says the pattern is consistent with the same produce reaching grocery stores, restaurants, and fast-food chains. The state has found no indication that poor food handling at one restaurant or chain caused the broader Michigan outbreak.
This finding is separate from the federal nine-state outbreak. CDC and FDA link that defined subset to recalled iceberg lettuce and reported Taco Bell exposure, while Michigan continues to investigate other possible exposure routes.
CDC expands the Taco Bell Cyclospora outbreak to nine States
CDC identifies a nine-state outbreak involving more than 1,947 people who reported Taco Bell exposure in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Illnesses began from June 22 through July 20, 2026. Ninety-eight patients were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported. FDA expects the count to rise because it can take weeks to determine whether a sick person belongs in the outbreak.
Public health agencies link the outbreak to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico and recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico. FDA expects the case count to rise because it can take as long as six weeks to determine whether a sick person belongs in the outbreak.
The nine-state outbreak is a subset of the broader national increase. CDC is also investigating other outbreaks and illnesses that are unrelated to this outbreak.
FDA is investigating several Cyclospora clusters with unknown food sources
FDA’s CORE outbreak table currently lists several 2026 Cyclospora investigations involving products that have not yet been publicly identified. Active entries include reference 1392 with 93 cases, reference 1385, with ten cases; and reference 1381, with two cases. FDA also lists reference 1375, involving eight cases, and reference 1384, with 18 cases, as investigations whose outbreaks events have ended. FDA initiated traceback for several of these investigations.
Those entries should be interpreted carefully. FDA explains that its outbreak investigations are in different stages and that investigations without specific, actionable consumer steps may or may not identify a source. FDA also says it will not publicly name a specific product until there is sufficient evidence to implicate that product as a cause of illness.
For consumers, this means there may be no recall yet even when public health agencies are doing serious traceback work. For potential legal claims, it means evidence preservation is critical. Receipts, loyalty-card records, delivery-app orders, credit-card statements, product labels, restaurant receipts, and health department interviews can become important if FDA, CDC, or state investigators later identify a food source.
North Carolina is investigating a separate parsley, cilantro and lettuce signal
NCDHHS reports 561 cyclosporiasis cases and 16 hospitalizations from May 1 through July 20, with the majority of reported cases in Wake County. Parsley, cilantro and lettuce are recurring in patient interviews, but state officials have not confirmed any food, brand, grower, supplier, retailer or restaurant as the source.
NCDHHS says the North Carolina increase does not currently appear associated with the nine-state Taco Bell outbreak. That distinction matters because the same summer can contain several Cyclospora outbreaks with different vehicles and distribution chains.
What the Taco Bell reports may mean
The Taco Bell connection is no longer based on anonymous reporting or an unconfirmed investigative lead. CDC and FDA identify a nine-state outbreak involving at least 1,947 people who reported Taco Bell exposure and link the outbreak to recalled iceberg lettuce.
FDA’s traceback investigation and outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms from growers in central Mexico. Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, and Taco Bell says it stopped using lettuce from that supplier as of July 17.
The finding does not mean every Taco Bell location received recalled lettuce or that every U.S. Cyclospora case is connected to Taco Bell. FDA says additional implicated brands, restaurants, retailers, or distribution channels may still be identified.
The Taco Bell-linked cases represent only part of the broader increase in Cyclospora illnesses across the United States. CDC is investigating other outbreaks and illnesses that are not currently connected to this outbreak. This could mean that lettuce from the same supplier reached additional businesses, that other contaminated foods are involved, or that more than one outbreak is occurring at the same time.
Anyone diagnosed with cyclosporiasis who ate at Taco Bell or another restaurant during the 14 days before symptoms began should save receipts, app orders, credit-card records, restaurant locations, menu items, photographs of posted notices, and details about lettuce, salad, salsa, cilantro, onions, guacamole, or other fresh toppings. Our guide to restaurant food poisoning lawsuits explains why these records can matter.
Why Cyclospora outbreaks are so difficult to solve
Cyclospora outbreaks are often harder to solve than outbreaks involving more familiar pathogens such as Salmonella or E. coli. The FDA fresh produce overview explains that cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, that humans are the only known host, and that outbreaks have been associated with fresh fruits and vegetables.
One difficulty is the parasite’s life cycle. FDA says the parasite must be shed by an infected person and remain in the environment for one to two weeks before becoming infective. CDC likewise explains that direct person-to-person spread is unlikely because Cyclospora must mature outside the host before it can infect another person.
Another difficulty is produce itself. Fresh produce is perishable, may be eaten raw, may move through complex supply chains, and may be mixed with other ingredients before a patient ever sees it. A small amount of cilantro, basil, green onion, lettuce, or berries may be used in many recipes. Patients may remember the restaurant or grocery store but not the garnish, herb blend, salsa, salad mix, or topping.
Testing also complicates the picture. The CDC clinical overview says testing for Cyclospora is not routinely conducted in most U.S. laboratories and healthcare providers may have to specifically request it. The MDHHS provider bulletin adds that standard microscopy can have lower sensitivity due to low oocyst shedding and that molecular testing may be more sensitive.
Finally, the outbreak source may never be identified publicly. The AP reports that Cyclospora investigations can take months and sometimes never find a clear source. That is why every diagnosed patient interview matters. One person’s food history may not solve the outbreak, but dozens or hundreds of detailed interviews can reveal a common product, distributor, restaurant chain, grocery supplier, or growing region.
Fresh produce has been the recurring theme in Cyclospora outbreaks
Past Cyclospora outbreaks have repeatedly involved fresh produce. FDA lists fresh fruits and vegetables as common outbreak vehicles and notes that chlorine and other common antimicrobial chemical treatments are not effective against Cyclospora. Public health agencies have previously investigated outbreaks linked to produce such as raspberries, basil, cilantro, snow peas, bagged salad mixes, lettuce, parsley, and vegetable trays.
Pritzker Hageman has written about many of these issues, including Cyclospora food poisoning from produce, Cyclospora from basil, and the 2020 Fresh Express bagged salad Cyclospora outbreak. The firm has also represented clients in major fresh produce outbreaks involving restaurants, retailers, processors, and distributors.
FDA’s Cyclospora Prevention, Response and Research Action Plan explains that reported U.S. cases have been rising in recent years, likely due in part to better diagnostic testing, and that public health authorities have confirmed more domestically acquired cases traced to both domestic and imported produce.
Cyclospora symptoms can last weeks and may relapse
Cyclospora infects the small intestine and typically causes watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive bowel movements. The CDC clinical overview lists common symptoms that can include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, and prolonged fatigue. Other symptoms can include vomiting, body aches, headache, low-grade fever, and flu-like symptoms.
Symptoms usually begin about one week after exposure, but CDC says the incubation period can range from two days to two weeks or more. If untreated, illness may last from a few days to a month or longer and may seem to improve and then come back. That relapsing pattern is one reason some patients delay getting tested, and one reason providers may not immediately suspect Cyclospora.
Dehydration can become serious, especially for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. People with persistent diarrhea should seek medical care and ask whether Cyclospora testing is appropriate.
Diagnosis matters because not every stool test looks for Cyclospora
A key practical point for patients is that a routine stool test may not include Cyclospora unless the provider or laboratory specifically orders it. The CDC says testing for Cyclospora is not routinely conducted in most U.S. laboratories. MDHHS advises providers not to rely on standard ova and parasite orders unless they confirm Cyclospora is included.
Patients with sudden, ongoing diarrhea during this outbreak should tell their provider about possible Cyclospora exposure and ask whether stool testing should specifically include Cyclospora. A positive laboratory result matters medically because cyclosporiasis has a specific preferred treatment. It can also matter legally because a confirmed diagnosis is often one of the most important pieces of evidence in a food poisoning claim.
How is cyclosporiasis treated?
The CDC clinical care guidance states that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, often called TMP-SMX, is the treatment of choice for cyclosporiasis. CDC also notes that most healthy people eventually recover without treatment, although illness may be prolonged. Treatment decisions should be made by a healthcare provider, especially for patients with medication allergies, pregnancy concerns, kidney disease, immune system issues, dehydration, or other medical risks.
What should people do if they may be part of a Cyclospora outbreak?
- Get medical care and ask about Cyclospora testing. Tell the healthcare provider about the current outbreak activity and ask whether the stool order specifically targets Cyclospora.
- Report a positive diagnosis. Local and state health departments need patient interviews to identify common foods, restaurants, stores, events, suppliers, and distributors.
- Write down a detailed food history. Include salads, leafy greens, herbs, berries, green onions, fresh produce, grocery store purchases, restaurants, fast food, catering, delivery-app orders, workplace meals, school meals, hospital or nursing-home meals, parties, and travel during the 14 days before symptoms began.
- Save records. Keep medical records, test results, prescriptions, discharge papers, bills, missed-work records, receipts, grocery loyalty records, restaurant receipts, delivery orders, credit-card statements, product photos, packaging, and texts or emails about illness.
- Do not rely on memory alone. Produce cases often turn on small details such as a garnish, side salad, berry topping, salsa, herb blend, lettuce supplier, or foodservice distributor.
- Talk to an experienced Cyclospora attorney before evidence disappears. A lawyer can help identify stores, restaurants, suppliers, corporate records, traceback evidence, and public health documents that may link a diagnosed illness to a legally responsible company.
Can people sue for Cyclospora food poisoning?
A Cyclospora lawsuit may be possible if evidence connects a diagnosed illness to contaminated food sold or served by a company. In many cases, the strongest claims involve a positive stool test, compatible symptom timing, a food exposure that matches the outbreak investigation, and records showing where the person bought or ate the implicated food.
Potential defendants can include produce growers, packing houses, processors, distributors, wholesalers, grocery chains, restaurants, caterers, institutional foodservice companies, and other businesses in the supply chain. The legal theory depends on the facts, but contaminated food cases often focus on whether a company sold unsafe food and whether that food caused the client’s illness.
Our pages on suing for Cyclospora from produce, suing a grocery store for Cyclospora, and restaurant food poisoning lawsuits explain these issues in more detail. Pritzker Hageman’s food poisoning attorneys work with epidemiologists, microbiologists, traceback specialists, and public health evidence to prove outbreak claims.
Why this outbreak is legally and epidemiologically important
This outbreak is legally and epidemiologically important because it is exceptionally large, fast-moving and only partly explained. Federal agencies now link a nine-state subset of at least 1,947 cases to recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico and exposure at Taco Bell locations. FDA says traceback and epidemiologic evidence continue to converge on that lettuce even though a previously announced product-sample result was reclassified as a false positive.
The federal finding does not mean every Michigan case or every U.S. Cyclospora case came from Taylor Farms lettuce or Taco Bell. CDC is investigating other clusters and illnesses, and North Carolina says its separate increase does not currently appear connected. Patients should preserve records for all relevant produce, restaurant, grocery, catering and institutional-food exposures during the 14 days before symptoms began.
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How to Reduce Risk While a Specific Lettuce Product Remains Unknown
Do not eat recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. Throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. Restaurants and retailers should not serve recalled products.
The recall includes Marketside Iceberg Salad in 12-ounce and 24-ounce bags and Marketside Shredded Lettuce in 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags with Best If Used By dates from July 18 through August 3, 2026. The FDA recall notice lists additional foodservice products and dates.
Washing recalled lettuce does not make it safe. Clean containers, refrigerator bins, utensils, cutting boards, and surfaces that may have touched recalled lettuce using hot, soapy water or a dishwasher. For produce that is not recalled, MDHHS recommends buying whole heads of lettuce when possible, discarding the outer two or three layers, washing the inner leaves under running water, and cooking greens to at least 158°F when appropriate.
Cyclospora outbreak FAQ
No. CDC confirms one large multistate outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce, but CDC is also investigating other clusters and illnesses. The 6,707-case national surveillance total is not one single outbreak total.
Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. CDC and FDA report at least 1,947 cases, 98 hospitalizations, and no deaths.
Yes for the nine-state Taco Bell outbreak. CDC and FDA link that outbreak to recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. Other national clusters and Michigan’s broader investigation may involve other sources.
Yes. The 1,947 people included in the nine-state outbreak reported Taco Bell exposure. The finding does not mean every Taco Bell location or every U.S. Cyclospora case is connected.
MDHHS says lettuce or salad greens may be a potential source, but investigators have not identified a specific lettuce variety, salad product, grower, processor, supplier, distributor, restaurant, grocery store, or brand. Other foods have not been completely ruled out.
List all salads, leafy greens, bagged salad mixes, cilantro, basil, green onions, berries, snow peas, salsa, produce garnishes, restaurant meals, delivery orders, catered food, workplace meals, grocery store produce, and travel meals during the two weeks before symptoms began.
Direct person-to-person transmission is unlikely because Cyclospora passed in stool is not immediately infectious. The parasite generally must mature in the environment before it can infect another person. Food or water contaminated after that environmental development is the usual concern in outbreaks.
A claim may seek compensation for medical bills, prescription costs, lost wages, lost business income, out-of-pocket expenses, pain, suffering, fatigue, dehydration, hospitalization, and other losses. The value depends on the evidence, severity, duration, diagnosis, treatment, wage loss, and whether the illness can be linked to a legally responsible company.
Experienced Cyclospora lawyers
Pritzker Hageman is a national food safety law firm that represents people sickened in foodborne illness outbreaks. Our lawyers have handled Cyclospora cases involving restaurants, grocery stores, multi-state retailers, produce distributors, and fresh produce suppliers. We know how to work with public health evidence, product traceback, microbiology, food histories, and corporate records.
If you were diagnosed with cyclosporiasis after eating fresh produce, restaurant food, fast food, catered food, or grocery-store food, contact our food poisoning attorneys for a free consultation. Call 1-888-377-8900, text 612-261-0856, or contact Pritzker Hageman online.
Cyclospora Resources
For a complete explanation of symptoms, incubation, stool testing, treatment, evidence, compensation, and legal options, read our Cyclospora lawyer and cyclosporiasis lawsuit guide.