Updated September 14, 2026.
The short answer: yes. The CDC declared the 2026 iceberg lettuce cyclospora outbreak over on September 11, 2026, and states plainly that there is no longer a risk of getting sick with cyclospora from the lettuce involved. Illnesses in this outbreak began between June 14 and August 14, 2026, the recalled lettuce left stores in July, and the lettuce on shelves today is not part of it. The rest of this page is what happened, and what to do the next time a produce outbreak makes the news, because the most common cost of one is quietly eating fewer vegetables for a month.
What Happened in the 2026 Cyclospora Outbreak?
The CDC, the FDA and state health officials began investigating in July 2026 and linked the outbreak to processed iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico and sold by Taylor Farms de Mexico, which recalled all iceberg lettuce from that region on July 17, 2026. It was the largest cyclospora outbreak on record in the United States. The CDC's final update, dated September 11, 2026, puts the totals at 12,883 illnesses across 21 states, 570 hospitalizations and 2 deaths, both in Michigan. The New York Times announced the end of the outbreak on September 10, 2026.
One thing is still open. The outbreak is over, but the FDA has not yet determined how the lettuce became contaminated, and its investigation is continuing.
Timeline: When the Outbreak Started and Ended
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 14, 2026 | Earliest illness onset recorded in the CDC outbreak data |
| July 8 to 10, 2026 | The peak. More than 1,000 people got sick on each of these three days, topping out at 1,214 on July 10 |
| July 17, 2026 | Taylor Farms de Mexico recalls all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico |
| August 3, 2026 | Latest best-by date on any recalled product, per New York Times reporting, after which it was gone from stores and restaurants |
| August 14, 2026 | Latest illness onset recorded |
| September 11, 2026 | CDC declares the outbreak over and publishes its final update |
Two caveats the CDC attaches to these dates, worth repeating. The onset chart covers 10,949 people, about 85 percent of the 12,883 confirmed cases, because an onset date was never recorded for the rest. And the true number of illnesses was almost certainly higher than the number reported, because many people recover without ever being tested.
The long tail is a reporting artifact rather than a sign the lettuce stayed dangerous. It can take up to two weeks after eating the parasite to feel sick, then several more weeks to see a doctor, get a stool test and have the result reach federal health officials, so cases kept being counted long after the product was gone.
Which States Were Affected?
Twenty-one states reported illnesses, and the distribution was strikingly uneven. Michigan and Ohio alone accounted for about two thirds of every case in the outbreak.
| State of exposure | Reported illnesses |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 5,762 |
| Ohio | 2,871 |
| Missouri | 1,071 |
| Indiana | 870 |
| Kansas | 373 |
| Kentucky | 366 |
| Illinois | 292 |
| Pennsylvania | 271 |
| Oklahoma | 269 |
| Nebraska | 207 |
| West Virginia | 170 |
| Iowa | 138 |
| Arkansas | 87 |
| New Hampshire | 43 |
| Maine | 26 |
| Texas | 24 |
| Massachusetts | 18 |
| Virginia | 12 |
| Tennessee | 7 |
| Georgia | 3 |
| North Carolina | 3 |
| Total | 12,883 |
Counts are by state of exposure. Appearing on this list reflects where past illnesses were reported, not where contaminated lettuce is being sold today.
What Is Cyclospora, and Why Doesn't Washing Fix It?
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that spreads when produce is contaminated, typically through water or growing conditions, before it ever reaches a store. Infection causes watery diarrhea, cramping, fatigue, and appetite loss that can last weeks and can relapse after treatment.
Two facts from the CDC matter most for everyday decisions. First, washing helps reduce risk but does not reliably remove cyclospora from contaminated produce; this is not a problem you can rinse away in the sink. Second, cooking kills the parasite. That is why outbreak guidance distinguishes sharply between raw produce eaten as-is and produce that is cooked or commercially processed before it reaches you.
The Bigger Risk: Quitting Vegetables Entirely
Outbreaks change behavior, and usually in the wrong direction. The rational response to a lettuce recall is to swap formats for a while, not to stop eating vegetables. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 set the target at 3 servings of vegetables a day at 2,000 calories, where a serving is 1 cup raw or cooked or 2 cups leafy greens, and about 90 percent of Americans already fall short of it. The evidence connecting vegetable intake to long-term health is among the most consistent in nutrition science. A large 2017 meta-analysis by Aune and colleagues in the International Journal of Epidemiology, covering 95 studies and roughly 2 million people, found that higher fruit and vegetable intake was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, with benefits accruing serving by serving.
Skipping salad for a few weeks costs you nothing if you replace it. Skipping vegetables for a few weeks is a real cost.
How to Keep Getting Vegetables During a Produce Outbreak
This outbreak is over, but there will be another one, and the table below is the part of this page worth keeping. Risk during a produce outbreak concentrates in raw, fresh-cut produce eaten uncooked, which is why bagged salad keeps showing up in outbreak investigations. Lower-risk ways to keep your intake up while a recall is active:
| Option | Why it is lower risk | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked vegetables | Roasting, steaming and sauteing kill cyclospora. Broccoli, carrots, spinach and green beans were unaffected by the concerns that drove this outbreak | Pan and stove |
| Frozen vegetables you cook | Prepared to package directions, they land in the same cooked, low-risk category | Pan and stove |
| Soups and stews | Fully cooked, and an easy way to concentrate several servings | Cooking time |
| Commercially processed, sealed products | A sealed, shelf-stable product is a different category from a salad bar, a fresh-cut tray or a bag of raw lettuce. This is the category SaladPower is in | None |
| Raw fresh-cut produce and bagged salad | This is the higher-risk category, and where cyclospora outbreaks have repeatedly originated | None |
One more habit worth keeping: the CDC and FDA outbreak pages list exactly which products and lot codes are implicated, and they say when an outbreak has ended. An outbreak tied to one grower's iceberg lettuce was never a verdict on all produce.
Where SaladPower Fits
SaladPower is a USDA Certified Organic blend of six whole ingredients, spinach, kale, carrot, broccoli, apple, and lemon, blended whole and sealed in a shelf-stable pouch. It contains no lettuce and is not part of any recall. Each pouch is 5 to 6 cups of vegetables per third-party testing commissioned by our manufacturer. Against a recommended 3 servings a day, that is roughly 2x the recommended daily vegetable intake, in under 100 calories, with 5 grams of fiber and no added sugar.
To be clear about what that does and does not mean: no food category is risk-free, and this article makes no claim that any product is immune to contamination. The relevant distinction, the same one food safety experts drew in the New York Times coverage, is that a sealed, commercially processed, shelf-stable product sits in a different risk category from raw fresh-cut produce, which is where cyclospora outbreaks have repeatedly originated. If this outbreak left you side-eyeing the salad bar, a sealed pouch of whole vegetables is one way to keep the habit going. So is a sheet pan of roasted broccoli. The goal is the same either way: do not let an outbreak talk you out of vegetables.
For what the shortfall actually costs when it becomes a habit rather than a week, see what actually happens if you do not eat vegetables. For the target itself, how many vegetables you need a day. For other low-effort routes that do not involve a salad, the easiest way to get your daily vegetables without cooking. And because "processed" is doing a lot of work in this article, is SaladPower ultra-processed draws the line between processed and ultra-processed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lettuce safe to eat right now?
Yes. The CDC declared this outbreak over on September 11, 2026 and states that there is no longer a risk of getting sick with cyclospora from the lettuce involved. The recalled product was pulled from distribution on July 17, 2026 and its latest best-by date has long since passed. Normal habits still apply: wash produce under running water, and check the CDC and FDA recall pages whenever a new outbreak is in the news.
When did the 2026 cyclospora outbreak start and end?
Illnesses began between June 14 and August 14, 2026, according to the CDC's outbreak data, and peaked on July 10, when 1,214 people got sick in a single day. Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled the implicated iceberg lettuce on July 17, 2026, and the CDC declared the outbreak over on September 11, 2026.
Which states were affected by the 2026 cyclospora outbreak?
Twenty-one states reported illnesses: Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Nebraska, West Virginia, Iowa, Arkansas, New Hampshire, Maine, Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. Michigan (5,762 cases) and Ohio (2,871) accounted for about two thirds of the outbreak between them. The listing reflects where past illnesses were reported, not where contaminated lettuce is being sold today.
Can washing lettuce remove cyclospora?
No. Per the CDC, washing produce reduces risk generally but does not reliably remove cyclospora. Cooking kills the parasite. That is why recalled or suspect produce should be discarded, not washed and eaten.
Which vegetables are lowest risk during a produce outbreak?
Cooked vegetables, frozen vegetables you cook, fully cooked soups and stews, and commercially processed sealed products. Outbreak risk concentrates in raw fresh-cut produce eaten uncooked.
Is SaladPower affected by the lettuce recall?
No. SaladPower contains no lettuce. Its six ingredients are organic spinach, kale, carrot, broccoli, apple, and lemon, blended whole and sealed in a shelf-stable pouch, and it is not part of any recall.
How can I get my daily vegetables without eating salad?
Roast or steam vegetables in batches, cook from frozen, build soups, or drink them: one SaladPower pouch is 5 to 6 cups of vegetables, roughly 2x the recommended 3 servings a day, with no prep. Salad is one delivery format for vegetables, not the only one.
Sources
- Jewett, C., Hopkins Legaspi, C., and Callahan, A. "U.S. Officials Announce Cyclospora Outbreak Is Over." The New York Times, September 10, 2026. Read the original article
- Callahan, A. "So Are We Eating Lettuce Again?" The New York Times, August 14, 2026. nytimes.com
- "9 Vulnerable Moments in the Life of a Bagged Salad." The New York Times, August 20, 2026. nytimes.com
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Iceberg Lettuce," final update September 11, 2026. cdc.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "When People Got Sick: Cyclospora Outbreak, July 2026" (illness onset data), final update September 11, 2026. cdc.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Where People Got Sick: Cyclospora Outbreak, July 2026" (cases by state), final update September 11, 2026. cdc.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Investigation Update: Cyclospora Outbreak, July 2026." cdc.gov
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Investigation of Multistate Outbreak of Cyclospora Illnesses: Iceberg Lettuce (July 2026)." fda.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "About Cyclosporiasis." cdc.gov
- Aune, D., et al. "Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies." International Journal of Epidemiology, 2017. doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyw319
- U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. realfood.gov
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
