More patients have been identified in a nationwide outbreak of infections from the Cyclospora parasite, with Michigan alone reporting almost 500 new cases overnight linked to iceberg lettuce products from Taylor Farms.
As is stands today, there are 7,664 patients in Michigan, up from 7,171 on July 22. Of those patients at least 160 have been hospitalized. Michigan is posting patient counts on a daily basis while other states are sporadically posting numbers. As of earlier this week, Ohio had 2,029 patients.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking several outbreaks, reporting a total of 4,173 laboratory confirmed patients and another 7,400 cases across 41 states under investigation.
One reason the CDC’s numbers are lagging behind the total from the states is that the Trump Administration had the agency stop tracking Cyclospora infections beginning July 1, 2025. Another reason for the discrepancies between the states and CDC counts is the lag time between when a state confirms a case and when it is included in the federal count.
The Food and Drug Administration is tracking four active outbreaks of Cyclospora infections. Not counting the largest outbreak, the three others have a total of 100 patients. It is not clear whether that count is included in the CDC’s overall number of patients. As previously reported by Food Safety News, the FDA added a new Cyclospora outbreak to its investigations on July 22. The agency is reporting 72 patients for that outbreak.
Link to Taylor Farms
Outbreak investigators have linked the Cycloapora infections to shredded iceberg lettuce and salad kits with iceberg lettuce produced by Taylor Farms. The lettuce in question comes from the company’s growing operation in central Mexico.
The produce company recalled the implicated products on July 17. Its customers include Walmart, Costco, Target, Whole Foods, McDonald’s and Taco Bell, as well other fast food chains and Sysco, which is the country’s largest food service supplier. Sysco supplies a number of restaurant chains in addition to hospitals, schools, hotels and other foodservice operators.
Taylor Farms is one of the world’s largest produce companies with annual revenue of $6 billion.
