Maine and Massachusetts added to multistate Cyclospora outbreak

By
FOX Local
Published August 14, 2026 12:42 PM CDT

FILE-The outside of the Food and Drug Administration headquarters is seen in White Oak, Maryland. (Photo By Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)

The Brief

    • Maine and Massachusetts are among the 17 reported states affected by the Cyclospora outbreak.
    • Food and Drug Administration officials said there are more than 9,000 reported illnesses nationwide.
    • The Cyclospora outbreak was first connected to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in multiple states.

Food and Drug Administration officials said two more states—Maine and Massachusetts—have been added to the list of states tied to the Cyclospora outbreak, bringing the total number of states impacted to 17.

The outbreak has been linked to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico and recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico. 

RELATED: Why the US cyclospora outbreak is difficult to trace

Health officials noted that the outbreak included people who reported exposure to processed iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served or bought at various locations, including individuals who reported eating at Taco Bell. 

According to the FDA, many of the illnesses occurred before the Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce recall on July 17, 2026. 

Seventeen states affected by Cyclospora outbreak

The total case count associated with the outbreak is now 9,481 illnesses reported from 17 states, which are listed below:

  1. Arkansas
  2. Iowa
  3. Illinois
  4. Indiana
  5. Kansas
  6. Kentucky
  7. Massachusetts
  8. Maine
  9. Michigan
  10. Missouri
  11. Nebraska
  12. New Hampshire
  13. North Carolina
  14. Ohio
  15. Oklahoma
  16. Pennsylvania
  17. West Virginia

What are the symptoms of Cyclospora?

Dig deeper:

Health officials say people infected with Cyclospora develop diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, nausea, vomiting, body aches, headache, and fever. But some who are infected with the illness don’t have any symptoms. 

RELATED: Cyclospora outbreak: Restaurants seeing slump in sales after removing lettuce from menus

Meanwhile, Food and Drug Administration officials initiated an onsite inspection and sampling at Taylor Farms de Mexico in partnership with Mexican officials, according to the recall notice.

The Source: Information for this story was provided by a Food and Drug Administration recall notice. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.


 

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