Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas added to list of states with outbreak cases

August 27, 2026

The number of confirmed cases in the Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce has reached an eye-popping 11,458 individuals in 20 states, according to an update released today by the CDC.

This represents an increase of 528 cases since the previous update, released on August 20th.

The true scope of this outbreak is almost certainly much larger than the number of lab-confirmed cases. Most people who become infected with Cyclospora develop only mild symptoms and don’t seek medical assistance.

The outbreak map

The states of Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas have now been added to the list of affected states. All three of these states were on the FDA‘s posted list of states where the recalled lettuce was distributed.

Michigan remains the state most severely hit by this outbreak with more than 4800 cases confirmed so far; Ohio and Missouri are in second and third place, respectively. The CDC does not break down the number of hospitalizations on a state-by-state basis.

Here is a list of the affected states, in descending order by number of confirmed cases:

• Michigan: 4846
• Ohio: 2679
• Missouri: 1010
• Indiana: 823
• Kansas: 331
• Kentucky: 329
• Illinois: 278
• Pennsylvania: 244
• Oklahoma: 241
• Nebraska: 199
• West Virginia: 160
• Iowa: 130
• Arkansas: 82
• New Hampshire: 42
• Texas: 20
• Massachusetts: 18
• Maine: 16
• Tennessee: 5
• Georgia: 3
• North Carolina: 2

When people became ill

According to the CDC, this outbreak began (ie., initial victims became ill) on June 14 and onset dates have continued through August 15, 2026.

Of the 9,256 victims for whom an onset date is available, 1001 (10.8%) fell sick on a single day—July 10, 2026.

It can take as long as six weeks from the time an individual develops symptoms to the time the CDC is able to confirm that the person is part of the outbreak. Therefore, we can expect the case count to continue to increase, albeit more slowly, for some time to come.

The FDA investigation status

On July 17, 2026, Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled shredded iceberg product distributed June 29th thru July 16th, and suspended distribution of the iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico. According to the FDA, the recalled iceberg lettuce should no longer be available for sale.

The FDA is conducting on-site inspections and sampling at iceberg lettuce growers and the Taylor Farms processing facility in Mexico in coordination with Mexican officials.

The elephant in the room

On average, people begin to develop symptoms approximately one week after they become infected with Cyclospora (range 2 days to 2 weeks).

Therefore, most of the illnesses with onset dates prior to July 5th were NOT due to consumption of the recalled lettuce, which only hit the market on June 29th.

More than one-quarter (27%) of all the cases for which an onset date is available developed before the recalled lettuce hit the market. That’s 2,525 individuals who were exposed to contaminated lettuce that was no longer available for testing by the time the CDC and the FDA realized there was an outbreak in progress and traced it to lettuce served (according to initial data) at Taco Bell.

This is a failure of surveillance, of communication between state and federal agencies, and of traceback timeliness, and is deserving—nay, demanding—of congressional investigation.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.

17 states impacted; 398 hospitalized; 2 dead

August 13, 2026

The CDC reported today that the Cyclospora outbreak linked to lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico has grown to 9,481 lab-confirmed cases in 17 states. The total number of cases reported includes sick people who traveled to one of the 17 states but reside in different states.

Two people are dead in Michigan; 398 people have been hospitalized.

With Maine and Massachusetts added to the list, outbreak cases have now been confirmed in 17 states:

• Arkansas: 75
• Illinois: 245
• Indiana: 625
• Iowa: 111
• Kansas: 232
• Kentucky: 229
• Maine: 11
• Massachusetts: 17
• Michigan: 4,237
• Missouri: 819
• Nebraska: 158
• New Hampshire: 37
• North Carolina: 2
• Ohio: 2,155
• Oklahoma: 213
• Pennsylvania: 172
• West Virginia: 143

The CDC has also pushed back the “start date” for this outbreak by one week, to June 14, 2026.

The outbreak definition includes people who reported exposure to processed iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served or purchased at various locations, including people who previously reported eating at Taco Bell.

According to the FDA, the best-by dates for the lettuce recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico on July 17, 2026, have passed and product should no longer be available in stores or restaurants. 

Distribution of the recalled lettuce to foodservice customers took place from June 29th through July 16th and was confirmed in the following states: AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, ME, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, and WV. The recalled lettuce may have been further distributed to: CA, DC, DE, ND, PR, RI, SD, VT, and WA.

Recalled Marketside-brand products were sold at select Walmart stores in: AL, AR, FL, GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MO, MS, OK, TN, TX, VA, WV.

No information has been released regarding the distribution pattern of lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico to foodservice and retail operations prior to June 29th.

The FDA has initiated on-site inspection and sampling at Taylor Farms de Mexico. This work is being undertaken in conjunction with Mexican authorities.

Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?

Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.