U.S. health officials announced the conclusion of the largest cyclospora food poisoning outbreak in American history on Friday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed that all recalled iceberg lettuce associated with this particular outbreak has been removed from the market.
According to federal officials, nearly 13,000 reported cases of cyclospora were linked to the outbreak across multiple states. While Canada has experienced sporadic clusters of cyclospora cases in recent years, there were no reported Canadian cases related to this specific outbreak.
Despite the closure of the outbreak, there are lingering questions regarding its origin. The parasite is typically transmitted through human waste, and it remains unclear how sewage could have contaminated enough food to cause illness in a significant number of individuals.
Ellen Shumaker, the outreach director of Safe Plates at North Carolina State University, explained that contamination can occur if produce is cultivated in contaminated soil or comes into contact with contaminated water.
Since May 1, the government has received reports of nearly 20,000 laboratory-confirmed cases, which is more than 16 times the number reported during the same period the previous year. Additionally, over 6,100 suspected cases have been reported. The most severe year for infections in the U.S. was 2019, with around 4,700 reported illnesses nationally.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that typically causes watery diarrhea and is known to lead to outbreaks more frequently in late spring and summer. The illness, termed cyclosporiasis, is less common compared to foodborne illnesses caused by other pathogens like salmonella and E. coli.
This year saw a surge in cases primarily linked to an outbreak in 21 states associated with iceberg lettuce. However, numerous other cases remain unconnected to this specific outbreak. Michigan was the most heavily impacted state, reporting the highest number of cases and two deaths in the U.S. tied to the outbreak.
Investigators initially focused on lettuce served at Taco Bell during the outbreak. Subsequently, federal officials identified Taylor Farms as the lettuce source, leading to the recall of iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico.
The FDA announced the conclusion of on-site inspections and sample collection at iceberg lettuce growers and the processing facility in Mexico. Pending analysis are samples collected during these inspections, according to the FDA.
The outbreak highlighted a growing concern that U.S. regulators are reducing international inspections, potentially allowing contaminated produce to reach American consumers.