Is It Safe to Eat Lettuce Again? What to Know About Cyclospora

For much of the summer of 2026, salad didn’t seem quite as common as it usually does. During a time when many people are working on achieving and maintaining their beach bodies, an ongoing lettuce recall has pushed a lot of Americans to pass on the salad in favor of some other low-calorie meals.

A large Cyclospora outbreak, an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis, left thousands sick across the US. Investigators eventually linked one major multistate outbreak to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico, including lettuce served at Taco Bell and sold through retail channels. While health officials say that the recalled lettuce should be off the market now, many are left wondering if it’s safe to eat lettuce now, or if people with food safety concerns should continue to steer clear.

The Lettuce Recall Has Ended, But the Investigation Hasn't

The recall on Taylor Farms lettuce was issued on July 17, after investigators traced the tainted lettuce back to a farm in Central Mexico. The recall covered a wide range of food-service products, along with retail products sold at select Walmart stores. Some of the recalled Marketside products included 12- and 24-ounce packages of iceberg salad and 8- and 16-ounce packages of shredded lettuce, with best-by dates extending into early August.

Shortly after the findings were made public, the FDA issued a Class I recall, the most serious recall category. According to the FDA, a Class I recall means that there is a reasonable probability that consuming the recalled product could cause serious illness or death. The FDA said the classification reflected both the strength of the evidence linking the lettuce to the outbreak and the severity of the illnesses reported.

On September 3, roughly two months after the Cyclospora outbreak started, the CDC announced that the tainted lettuce should no longer be available in stores or restaurants. The agency also said it was reducing the frequency of updates because the number of new cases associated with the outbreak has declined.

Can You Eat Lettuce Now?

For most consumers, the federal government has no current recommendation to stop eating lettuce altogether. Of course, there was never a recommendation that every consumer should avoid lettuce, but when food safety issues grab the headlines like the Cyclospora outbreak did, many customers take a “better safe than sorry” approach.

The CDC’s current guidance focuses on washing and preparing lettuce before consuming it. However, washing lettuce does not guarantee that Cyclospora will be removed. The CDC says cooking can kill the parasite, recommending a temperature of at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit, or 70 degrees Celsius. That is obviously much easier to accomplish with some vegetables than with a bowl of raw salad greens.

The Case Count Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

As of September 3, 2026, the CDC had reported 11,458 illnesses, 495 hospitalizations, and two deaths in the specific multistate outbreak associated with Taylor Farms lettuce. The illnesses were reported across 20 states. However, that report does not cover every Cyclospora illness in the United States.

Broader surveillance by the CDC showed 18,445 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States between May 1 and August 31, 2026. That number is especially worrisome when compared to the same timeframe in 2025. Last year, only 1,180 such cases were reported. The larger figure includes the lettuce outbreak as well as other cases and outbreaks that have different or unidentified sources.

Michigan Has Been Hit Particularly Hard

Michigan has emerged as the epicenter of the 2026 Cyclospora outbreak. According to state and federal officials, Michigan had reported 14,718 cyclosporiasis cases, including 366 hospitalizations as of September 3. Two Michigan residents died in connection with the outbreak, both of whom had underlying health conditions that were made worse by the illness.

The CDC has continued investigating other outbreaks and illnesses that are not associated with the Taylor Farms lettuce. That is important because Cyclospora has been linked to a variety of fresh produce in previous outbreaks, including leafy greens, basil, cilantro, raspberries, and snow peas.

What Should Consumers Do Now?

The current situation does not mean that you should panic and eliminate lettuce from your diet. Even if you choose to stay away from Taylor Farms lettuce until the numbers go down further, there are still plenty of companies out there that were not part of the lettuce recall of 2026. Ultimately, food safety, including properly washing all produce, is one of the most effective ways to stay safe.

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