Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told reporters on Tuesday that the ongoing cyclospora outbreak is “under control,” after officials identified shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico as the likely source.
Agency response and recall actions
The Food and Drug Administration announced that the lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms is linked to the illness cluster. The company began a voluntary recall, and Taco Bell removed the product from its menus.
Both the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have faced criticism for delayed public alerts. Critics said agency cuts from the previous administration slowed the search for the source, but Kennedy rejected that narrative, noting “no cuts in the surveillance program.”
In fact, the FoodNet program, a joint effort of CDC, FDA, state health departments and the USDA, trimmed mandatory reporting for six of eight pathogens, including cyclospora, last year due to funding reductions.
FoodNet’s collaborative structure means that data from local health departments flow into a centralized database, allowing federal analysts to spot trends across state lines. When the cyclospora signals emerged, the network’s reduced reporting scope meant that fewer labs were required to submit routine results, which some observers argue limited the early visibility of the outbreak.
The recall process itself required the FDA to issue an official safety alert, prompting distributors to halt shipments and retailers to pull the product from shelves.
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Outbreak statistics and timeline
Illnesses first appeared on May 13. To date, the CDC reports more than 1,644 cases, with 94 hospitalizations and no deaths.
Investigators continue to trace the distribution chain. While the FDA cleared a false‑positive test in a Taylor Farms sample, it reiterated that the lettuce remains the most plausible source.
State health officials are coordinating with federal partners to monitor new cases and advise the public on safe food handling.
The situation illustrates how a parasite with a long incubation period can linger in the public eye despite swift recalls.
Looking ahead, the agencies may need to reassess reporting thresholds for rare foodborne illnesses. Maintaining robust surveillance could help catch similar events earlier, even if budget constraints limit some programs.
For now, officials urge consumers to check the recall notice and to discard any affected lettuce.
