Cyclospora outbreak has many changing eating habits, CBS News poll finds; mixed and partisan confidence in FDA - CBS News

What the report says

CBS News reported that a new CBS News/YouGov poll finds widespread public attention to a cyclospora outbreak, with many Americans changing food habits in response. According to the survey, most U.S. adults said they are tracking news about the parasite at least somewhat closely, and about four in 10 said they are buying or eating less produce because of the outbreak. CBS said attention to the story is nearly on par with attention to the conflict with Iran.

The poll found differences by demographic group and level of attention. Women were somewhat more likely than men to report cutting back on produce, and older adults were more likely than younger people to say the same. Respondents who said they were following the cyclospora news very closely were especially likely to report changing produce-buying or eating behavior.

CBS also reported mixed public confidence in the Food and Drug Administration’s handling of the outbreak. More respondents expressed confidence than a lack of confidence overall, but relatively few said they had “a lot” of confidence in the agency. The poll found a partisan divide, with Republicans more likely than Democrats to express confidence in the FDA on the issue.

The survey was conducted July 22-24, 2026, among a nationally representative sample of 2,193 U.S. adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points. For context, cyclospora is a parasite that can cause intestinal illness and has often been investigated in connection with contaminated fresh foods, making consumer behavior and regulatory response significant public health concerns.