Cyclospora outbreak linked to lettuce reaches 20 states

The FDA designated the Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce recall as Class 1, signaling a high risk of serious health consequences. The outbreak has sickened 11,458 people across 20 states, with 495 hospitalizations and two deaths in Michigan. Investigators tie the cases to lettuce grown at Taylor Farms de Mexico and are continuing inspections in cooperation with the Mexican government, insisting that all recalled lettuce linked to this outbreak is off the market. Three additional states—Georgia, Tennessee and Texas—have reported cases, expanding the geographic scope of the largest U.S. cyclospora outbreak on record. Health officials note cyclosporiasis caused by cyclospora typically emerges in warmer months and that many cases remain unlinked to a single source. Officials continue testing, monitoring, and communicating brand and product-date information as the investigation proceeds, urging consumers to stay vigilant.