No, You Shouldn’t Avoid Fruits and Vegetables Due to Cyclospora - Consumer Reports

What the report says

ConsumerReports.org reports that U.S. health officials are investigating a large rise in cyclospora infections, while food safety experts caution consumers not to avoid all fruits and vegetables. The parasite can cause severe diarrhea, and Consumer Reports said at least 11,000 U.S. illnesses have been reported or are under investigation this year. The article, updated July 22, 2026, says confirmed infections since May 1 include 4,173 lab-confirmed cases across 41 states, with thousands more not yet confirmed.

According to the report, the Food and Drug Administration has tied a cluster of illnesses in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Kentucky to iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has counted at least 1,644 illnesses in that outbreak. Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce shipped from the implicated region, and Consumer Reports says the product was distributed to 27 states, including sales to Walmart and food distributors. Taco Bell said it stopped serving the potentially affected lettuce nationwide.

Consumer Reports noted confusion after the FDA initially reported a positive cyclospora test from a Taylor Farms lettuce sample, then said the result was a false positive. FDA officials said the reversal did not change the outbreak advisory because traceback and illness data still pointed to Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico. The agency advises consumers not to eat recalled lettuce.

Consumer Reports’ food safety director James E. Rogers said there is no evidence supporting broad avoidance of produce, though people in the 27 distribution states may want to avoid iceberg lettuce for now. The article adds that past cyclospora outbreaks have been linked to items such as basil, cilantro, raspberries, salad mixes and lettuce, and that summer increases are common.