U.S. declares end to record cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce

U.S. health officials announced Friday that the nation’s largest cyclospora food‑poisoning outbreak is officially over. The outbreak, which affected 21 states, was tied to contaminated iceberg lettuce and resulted in nearly 13,000 reported cases.

The Food and Drug Administration said all recalled lettuce associated with the outbreak has been removed from the market. Since May 1, federal agencies have recorded almost 20,000 lab‑confirmed cyclospora infections, more than 16 times the same period last year, along with over 6,100 suspected cases.

Despite declaring the outbreak over, investigators have not determined how the parasite entered the food supply. Experts note that contamination can occur when produce contacts water or soil contaminated with human feces, but the exact source remains unknown.