CDC declares cyclospora outbreak over
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the cyclospora outbreak related to Taylor Farms lettuce over Friday, though the Food and Drug Administration says its investigation remains ongoing.
The big picture: Thousands of people fell ill as the outbreak rapidly surged throughout the country this summer as federal authorities searched for its origin amid a backdrop of overlapping food safety investigations.
Driving the news: "This outbreak has ended. The number of recent infections linked to the outbreak has significantly declined," the CDC said in a Friday update, noting the "contaminated lettuce linked to this outbreak is no longer available in stores or restaurants."
- The CDC currently lists 12,883 cases, 570 hospitalizations and two deaths across 21 states.
- Taylor Farms, a large retail and restaurant supplier, recalled lettuce sourced from central Mexico in connection with the outbreak. The outbreak also included people who reported eating at Taco Bell, which removed the affected Taylor Farms lettuce.
Between the lines: Health officials stressed the challenge of tracking the tiny parasite because of the short shelf life of fresh produce and the lengthy incubation period before symptoms appear.
- The FDA said it is continuing its investigation into the outbreak linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce and the root cause of the outbreak.
Zoom out: This summer saw a flurry of recalls and FDA investigations, colliding with a brewing grocery price shock.
- On top of the cyclospora outbreak, Salmonella surges triggered jalapeño and egg recalls, E. coli and Salmonella infections were linked to alfalfa sprouts, and powdered infant formula was pulled from shelves after cases of infant botulism — among other outbreaks.
- Food-safety advocates have expressed concerns about declining federal surveillance after the Trump administration eliminated or pushed out thousands of workers across the CDC, FDA and USDA, Axios' Josephine Walker previously reported.
Go deeper: Cyclospora exposes weak links in America's food safety system
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional context throughout.
