Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Hits Florida: Salad Greens Under Investigation as Cases Spread Nationwide

Florida health officials are monitoring a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands across the country, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirming 1,645 cases in 34 states, including Florida. State and federal investigators have identified lettuce and salad greens as the likely source of contamination, though they have not ruled out other produce items.

The intestinal illness, caused by the cyclospora parasite, produces symptoms including watery diarrhea, nausea, and severe stomach cramps. People typically contract the parasite by eating or drinking something contaminated with feces. The outbreak represents one of the largest cyclosporiasis events in recent years, with Michigan alone reporting 2,640 cases and 44 hospitalizations as of July 14.

What's happening

The CDC confirmed the outbreak spans 34 states: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The agency published its case count on July 14, though state health departments are reporting significantly higher numbers in their jurisdictions.

Michigan leads the nation with 2,640 cases as of July 14, a 69% increase from the previous Friday. The state reported its first outbreak cases on July 1 after nearly 200 cases appeared across seven counties. New York City has documented 403 cases this year, most occurring since May 1. Ohio health officials reported 177 cases as of July 2, with 28 hospitalizations but no deaths.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, stated in a news release that "early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation." Local health departments in Michigan have conducted more than 1,000 interviews with people who tested positive to trace the outbreak's source.

The CDC expects case numbers to continue rising due to a typical six-week lag between the onset of illness and when cases are reported to federal authorities. The New York Times independently confirmed at least 4,800 cases nationwide this year. In none of the CDC-confirmed cases did affected individuals report travel during the two weeks before falling ill, and no evidence links recreational water exposure to the outbreak.

Impact on Florida residents and food safety

Florida consumers face uncertainty about the safety of produce in grocery stores and restaurants while investigators work to identify specific contaminated products. The cyclosporiasis parasite is resistant to routine chemical disinfection, meaning standard washing procedures may not eliminate the contamination. Because symptoms can take up to two weeks to develop after exposure, people who consumed contaminated produce recently may not yet know they are infected.

Health officials have not issued a broad recall or advised consumers to avoid all salad greens, but they are urging caution. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services recommends that consumers who choose to eat lettuce should purchase whole heads rather than pre-washed bagged lettuce or salad kits, discard the outer two to three layers of leaves, and thoroughly wash inner leaves under clean running water. For greens that can be cooked, heating to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit is the safest option.

Floridians who develop symptoms — particularly explosive diarrhea, nausea, or severe stomach cramps — should contact their healthcare provider. The illness can cause dehydration serious enough to require emergency medical care. Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health, noted in a statement that while no deaths have been reported in Ohio, "this is a serious illness that can cause dehydration and require people to seek emergency medical care, and it should be taken seriously."

Restaurants and the food service industry

The outbreak poses challenges for Florida's substantial restaurant and hospitality sector, which relies heavily on fresh produce in menu offerings. Restaurants, hotels, and institutional food service operations throughout Northeast Florida and the state must navigate the uncertainty around which specific products may be contaminated while maintaining customer confidence and food safety standards.

Previous cyclosporiasis outbreaks have been traced to bagged salad mixes and kits, as well as fresh cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas, and green onions. One of the largest outbreaks occurred in 2020, when 701 people across 14 states fell ill from Fresh Express bagged salads. Establishments that use pre-packaged salad products or source from multiple distributors may find it difficult to determine whether their supply chain is affected without specific product identification from investigators.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating the outbreak alongside the CDC and state and local partners. Until federal officials identify specific brands, products, or distribution channels, food service operators must rely on general precautions and supplier communication to protect customers. The investigation timeline remains uncertain, as tracing produce through complex distribution networks typically requires extensive coordination across state lines.

Federal surveillance cutbacks complicate response

The outbreak response has been complicated by recent changes to federal disease surveillance. In 2025, the CDC scaled back its foodborne illness monitoring program, no longer requiring states to report six pathogens, including cyclospora. The agency now only mandates reporting for salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

States like Michigan have been forced to conduct their own intensive investigations after federal surveillance capacity was reduced. The CDC acknowledged that "state health departments may have more timely information about the situation in their jurisdictions," effectively shifting primary responsibility for outbreak detection and response to state and local authorities.

The Trump administration stated on social media on July 14 that the CDC is working with 3,000 health departments to gather data. However, the significant discrepancy between the CDC's confirmed case count of 1,645 and the much higher numbers reported by individual states illustrates the challenges of coordinating a nationwide response without centralized, real-time surveillance systems.

For Florida and other affected states, the reduced federal oversight means local health departments must shoulder more of the investigative burden. This includes conducting patient interviews, analyzing purchasing patterns, and coordinating with food suppliers and distributors — resource-intensive work that competes with other public health priorities in state and county health departments across Northeast Florida and the state.

What happens next

Federal and state investigators continue working to identify the specific contaminated products and their distribution pathways. The FDA's investigation will focus on tracing produce through the supply chain to determine where contamination occurred — whether during growing, processing, packaging, or distribution.

Health officials expect case numbers to continue rising for several weeks due to the lag between infection and reporting. People who consumed contaminated produce in recent days may not develop symptoms for up to two weeks, and laboratory confirmation and reporting to public health authorities adds additional time.

Florida residents should monitor announcements from the Florida Department of Health and the CDC for any product recalls or specific avoidance recommendations. Those who develop symptoms consistent with cyclosporiasis should seek medical attention and inform their healthcare provider about the ongoing outbreak. Testing for cyclospora requires specific laboratory procedures, so patients should specifically mention the possibility of cyclosporiasis to ensure appropriate testing.

The CDC will provide updates as investigators narrow down the contamination source. Once specific products are identified, federal authorities typically work with manufacturers and distributors to issue recalls and remove contaminated items from commerce. Previous cyclosporiasis investigations have taken weeks to months to conclusively identify sources, given the complexity of modern produce distribution networks.

The outbreak underscores ongoing food safety challenges as Florida and the nation's population continues to grow and food supply chains become increasingly complex. Imported produce, which has been implicated in previous cyclosporiasis outbreaks, travels through multiple hands before reaching consumers, creating numerous opportunities for contamination and complicating traceback investigations that must often span international borders.