Week in Review: The outbreak that lingers 

Both the FDA and CDC have said the lettuce product linked to the Cyclospora outbreak is out of the market, but both posted outbreak updates yesterday.  

Cyclosporiasis cases tied to this outbreak rose to 10,930, but no states were added to the 17 already involved. 

This week, leaders at the International Fresh Produce Association stressed the need for health officials to clearly state what products are involved in the outbreak and encourage industry members to send letters to such effect. 

IFPA has to be politically sensitive encouraging federally health agencies to declare the outbreak officially over, as that is a job only the CDC can do. 

That’s clearly what the produce industry wants. 

Both FDA and CDC took one step short of that this week, as FDA said it “remains confident that all recalled iceberg lettuce related to this specific Cyclospora outbreak is off the market.” 

Similarly, “the best-by dates for these recalled products have passed and they should no longer be available in stores or restaurants,” said the CDC August 20. 

FDA lists the latest illness onset as August 11, 2026. 

“Consumers are waiting for the federal government to say the outbreak is over to regain confidence,” said Max Teplitski, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer of IFPA, August 14.  

Consumer fear and a lack of clarity have been devastating to the lettuce and even overall produce industry. 

IFPA consumer polling shows 44 percent of those surveyed are waiting for an announcement that the outbreak is over, and 63 percent want more reassurance directly from the government.    

July sales data released this week from IFPA showed fresh produce retail sales were down 3.0 percent in dollars from a year ago and 3.7 percent in pounds.

By category, salad kits saw a 19.4 percent fall in dollar sales and 18.6 percent drop in pounds in July. Lettuce saw a less dramatic drop, with -4.3 percent in dollar sales and -12.8 percent in pounds in July. 

Further polling shows that up to 88 percent of consumers say that their confidence has been shaken in the safety of fresh produce, at least somewhat.  

IFPA has done media outreach on the outbreak and groups such as the California LGMA have also done so and released a fact sheet, stressing that California leafy greens and lettuce are in full production and not associated with this outbreak. 

Of course, health officials have to do their due diligence on the outbreak, and the produce industry needs to continue to investigate the issues that led to this outbreak. 

Nearly everyone seems ready to move beyond it.