Salad Safety Returns as Cyclosporiasis Cases Decline in Michigan
WHO:
The Boston Globe - Dr. Zoe Weiss, director of microbiology at Tufts Medical Center
The Boston Globe - David Lennarz, co-founder of food safety compliance firm Registrar
The Boston Globe - Kate Scarlata, Boston-based dietitian
NBC News Health - Michigan health officials
WHAT:
CNBC - Traffic to Chopt Creative Salad Co. locations fell 24% on July 18, right after the FDA announced the outbreak.
CNBC - Sweetgreen reported that consumer concerns about the outbreak had about a 6 percentage point impact on same-store sales in July.
CNBC - Upstart chain Salad and Go filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed all of its locations, citing the cyclospora outbreak as exacerbating existing business challenges.
CNBC - Dollar sales of prepackaged salads plunged 14% during the four weeks ended July 25 compared with the year-ago period.
NBC News Health - The outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce has seen at least 6,358 cases, including 278 hospitalizations and two deaths, according to data from the CDC.
Sun Sentinel - As of August 1, Florida has 352 reported cases of cyclosporiasis in 2026, with 101 in South Florida.
Sun Sentinel - The recalled products from Taylor Farms include Walmart’s Marketside brand of shredded iceberg lettuce and iceberg salad, with “best if used by” dates of July 18 through August 3.
NBC News Health - Currently, 15 states have reported cases linked to the shredded iceberg lettuce outbreak: Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
NBC News Health - The outbreak linked to now-recalled jalapeños has seen 346 cases in 27 states, including 26 hospitalizations.
NBC News Health - The outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce has seen at least 6,358 cases, including 278 hospitalizations and two deaths, according to data from the CDC.
NBC News Health - The CDC has reported more than 22,000 cases of cyclosporiasis across 47 states.
NBC News Health - An outbreak directly linked to now-recalled jalapeños has so far seen 346 cases in 27 states, including 26 hospitalizations.
The Boston Globe - Cyclosporiasis has caused “miserable” chronic diarrhea and has sickened thousands of people nationwide.
The Boston Globe - Two people have died from cyclosporiasis in Michigan.
The Boston Globe - Massachusetts reported 104 cases of cyclosporiasis in July.
NBC News Health - Michigan health officials stated that residents could return to their usual salad routine as cyclosporiasis cases continue to fall.
WHERE:
The Boston Globe - Michigan
The Boston Globe - Massachusetts
The Boston Globe - Iceberg lettuce from Mexico linked to the outbreak
WHEN:
The Boston Globe - Taylor Farms recalled all lettuce sourced from central Mexico last month.
WHY:
ABC News - During Trump’s second term, the FDA lost about 20% of its staff while the CDC is down 25%.
The Boston Globe - Federal officials have linked the national outbreak to iceberg lettuce from Mexico.
The Boston Globe - Investigators are working to identify the source of the outbreak and eliminate contamination.
HOW:
CNBC - The FDA is advising consumers to take extra steps, like discarding outer layers of fruits and vegetables, to reduce risk of exposure.
Sun Sentinel - The FDA has proposed extending the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule to July 20, 2028.
ABC News - The FDA has proposed extending the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule to July 20, 2028.
The Boston Globe - Investigators are tracing the source of the outbreak, which involves a complex supply chain with many players.
The Boston Globe - Normal safety precautions like washing and rinsing food can help reduce the abundance of cyclospora parasites.
(UPDATED August 8, 2026 16:25 UTC)
The cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce has resulted in over 6,358 reported cases, including 278 hospitalizations and two deaths, prompting the FDA to advise consumers to take precautions like discarding outer layers of fruits and vegetables. In the wake of the outbreak, traffic to Chopt Creative Salad Co. locations dropped by 24% on July 18, while Sweetgreen experienced a six percentage point decline in same-store sales for July. Additionally, the upstart chain Salad and Go has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed all its locations, citing the outbreak as a significant factor in its business struggles.
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(UPDATED August 8, 2026 05:38 UTC)
Florida has reported 352 cases of cyclosporiasis in 2026, with 101 of those cases occurring in South Florida. A recall has been issued for Walmart’s Marketside brand of shredded iceberg lettuce and salad, with “best if used by” dates ranging from July 18 through August 3, as 15 states are linked to this outbreak. Additionally, an outbreak associated with recalled jalapeños has resulted in 346 cases across 27 states, prompting the FDA to propose extending the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule to July 20, 2028.
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(UPDATED August 8, 2026 03:01 UTC)
The CDC has reported a significant outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce, with at least 6,358 cases, including 278 hospitalizations and two deaths. Additionally, there are over 22,000 cases of cyclosporiasis across 47 states, and a separate outbreak tied to recalled jalapeños has resulted in 346 cases in 27 states, with 26 hospitalizations. In response to these challenges, the FDA has proposed extending the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule to July 20, 2028.
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(UPDATED August 7, 2026 19:55 UTC)
A significant outbreak of cyclosporiasis has sickened thousands across the nation, with two fatalities reported in Michigan and Massachusetts seeing 104 cases in July. Health officials have linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce from Mexico, prompting Taylor Farms to recall all lettuce sourced from the region last month. As cases continue to decline, Michigan health officials are advising residents that they can safely return to their usual salad routines while investigators work to trace the source of the contamination.