FDA’s CORE outbreak table, updated September 30, 2026, still lists five Cyclospora investigations as “Active,” even though every one of the outbreaks themselves is now marked “Ended.” Together they account for at least 13,196 confirmed illnesses. Only one has a named food – iceberg lettuce. The other four, which have sickened 313 people, still list the source as “Not Yet Identified.”
The only Cyclospora change in this week’s update: the case count in outbreak #1392 ticked up from 234 to 235.
| Ref # | Posted | Product | Cases | FDA Action |
| 1390 | 7/15/2026 | Iceberg lettuce (Taylor Farms de Mexico) | 12,883 | Recall, traceback, inspection, sampling |
| 1392 | 7/22/2026 | Not yet identified | 235 | Traceback, sampling |
| 1398 | 8/5/2026 | Not yet identified | 22 | Traceback, sampling |
| 1385 | 7/8/2026 | Not yet identified | 38 | Traceback, sampling |
| 1384 | 7/8/2026 | Not yet identified | 18 | Traceback only |
#1390 – Iceberg Lettuce, Taylor Farms de Mexico
This is the big one. According to FDA’s outbreak advisory, the outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico grew to 12,883 confirmed illnesses in 21 states, with 570 hospitalizations and two deaths, both in Michigan. The last reported illness onset was August 17, 2026. States with cases: AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, ME, MI, MO, NE, NH, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, and WV.
It began as a five-state cluster of illnesses among people who ate at Taco Bell. FDA’s traceback converged on a single supplier, and on July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico pulled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market and issued a recall that included Marketside-brand iceberg salad and shredded lettuce sold at Walmart, along with a long list of foodservice products. Recalled product was confirmed shipped to 31 states and may have reached eight more jurisdictions, as well as consumers in Mexico.
CDC declared the outbreak over on September 11, 2026. FDA, however, says its investigation continues. Its onsite inspections and sample collection at iceberg lettuce growers and the processing facility in Mexico have ended, and those samples are pending analysis. FDA has also launched a post-outbreak response page for Cyclospora prevention efforts.
#1392 – Source Not Yet Identified – 235 Sick
Posted July 22, 2026. With 235 confirmed cases, this is the second-largest Cyclospora outbreak on the table. FDA has initiated traceback and sampling, but no product has been named.
#1385 – Source Not Yet Identified – 38 Sick
Posted July 8, 2026. FDA has initiated traceback and sampling. No product named.
#1398 – Source Not Yet Identified – 22 Sick
Posted August 5, 2026. FDA has initiated traceback and sampling. No product named.
#1384 – Source Not Yet Identified – 18 Sick
Posted July 8, 2026. Traceback is the only action FDA has checked off. No product named.
Why the Unsolved Ones Matter
Cyclospora is a summer visitor that rides in on fresh produce, and the illnesses in the four unsolved outbreaks are separate from the 12,883 tied to iceberg lettuce. These are clusters that FDA saw, traced, and sampled – and still could not pin to a food. We have seen this before: in 2025, FDA closed one Cyclospora outbreak linked to parsley (#1325, 69 sick) and another, #1313 (48 sick), with the source never identified.
When an outbreak ends without a source, no grower, packer, or importer is held to account and nothing changes before next summer. FDA has committed to publishing a summary of findings when a cause or contributing factor is identified. The public deserves those findings for all five of these investigations – especially the four where the answer is still “we don’t know.”
About Cyclospora
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite spread through food or water contaminated with feces. Most people who are infected develop watery diarrhea with frequent bowel movements. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, and fatigue; vomiting, body aches, headache, and fever can also occur. Symptoms usually begin about a week after exposure. Untreated, the illness can last from a few days to a month or longer, and symptoms can go away and return one or more times. Those with weakened immune systems can face more severe and longer illness. The infection is treatable, typically with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, so anyone with symptoms should see a doctor and ask to be tested. More from FDA here, and CDC’s 2026 national case surveillance is here.
If you or a family member became ill with a Cyclospora infection after eating contaminated food and you are interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Cyclospora attorneys for a free case evaluation.
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