Cyclospora outbreak dubbed "lettuce-gate" as concerns over parasitic illness spread across U.S. - CBS News

What the report says

CBS News reported that a multistate cyclospora outbreak associated with iceberg lettuce has expanded, with confirmed infections nearing 2,000 and public concern spreading online under the label “lettuce-gate.” Citing the CDC, the report said the outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce had reached 1,947 confirmed cases as of Friday across nine states: Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. At least 98 people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

The report said Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had sought to reassure the public by saying the source had been identified and that recalls were in place. Health officials have focused on iceberg lettuce believed to have come from a Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico. Taylor Farms told CBS News that, as of Friday, the FDA had not confirmed positive cyclospora findings in its product samples, and said it had removed potentially affected products, broadened a recall, and voluntarily stopped sourcing and producing iceberg lettuce from central Mexico. Taco Bell, supplied by Taylor Farms, said it removed affected lettuce from restaurants.

CBS News also noted conflicting or evolving findings. Mexican regulators said tests of lettuce and water samples found no parasite, while the FDA previously said one positive sample was a false positive. Even so, the FDA said its investigation still points toward shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico.

The illness is caused by a microscopic parasite that can spread through contaminated food or water and cause gastrointestinal symptoms, including severe diarrhea. CBS News reported that officials suspect additional cyclospora outbreaks across 41 states, and case counts may continue to rise because confirming whether an illness belongs to an outbreak can take weeks.