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Federal and state authorities in the US have been investigating cases of illness from intestinal parasites.
Cyclospora is a small parasite that contaminates food that has come into contact with human feces, such as when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water.
Cyclosporiasis, an infection caused by a parasite, usually causes diarrhea, but some people may experience other gastrointestinal symptoms and dehydration. Symptoms usually begin within a week of ingesting the parasite, doctors say.
Illness usually not spreading from person to person.
As of July 20, more than 30 states have reported illness, with nearly 100 hospitalized so far and no deaths. The true number of infections is likely much higher given that many people recover without seeking treatment and that there is a lag between when symptoms start and reporting.
Public health officials say they are not currently investigating any Cyclospora outbreaks in Canada.
Food imported into Canada that have been linked to the Cyclospora parasite include:
- Basil.
- Cilantro.
- Berries.
- Berries.
- Mesclun lettuce.
- Ice and snap peas.
- Pre-made salad mix.
This is how the current outbreak south of the border happened and how Canadian health officials reacted.
May 13, 2026
I US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says this is when the first infections from Cyclospora parasite he started.
June 30
In Michigan State health officials say that as of this date, more than 170 cases have been reported in several states compared to the 50 cases of cyclosporiasis per year in general.
July 8
Public Health Agency of Canada it says it doesn’t investigate anything Cyclospora outbreak in Canada and tells CBCNews the parasite is not commonly found in food and is not in drinking water here.
“In the spring and summer, there is often an increase in Cyclospora infections associated with eating imported fruits and vegetables,” a PHAC spokesperson said in an email.
July 16
The FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating multi-state outbreaks of Cyclospora linked to frozen iceberg lettuce used at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
A parasite that causes diarrhea has led to a growing outbreak in the United States that has sickened more than 1,000 people and sent dozens to hospitals. As of Wednesday, several states have reported cases of cyclospora, which can cause watery diarrhea, constipation, fever and nausea. Although cases are common in the spring and summer, the current outbreak has led to an unusually high number, making it one of the largest the country has ever seen. No deaths were reported.
Illnesses first occurred between May 13, 2026, and July 13, 2026. Michigan is analyzing food exposure data from 190 cases of people who reported eating at Taco Bell and sharing these findings with the CDC.
The FDA says its trace-back investigation to try to find the source traces back to a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico used by Taco Bell locations where sick people ate before becoming ill.
Meanwhile, health officials in Alberta they say they are investigating an uptick in cyclosporiasis. But the province said no connection had been made between the Alberta infections and the U.S. outbreak.
July 17
Taylor Farms de Mexico, which supplies the charred iceberg lettuce used at Taco Bell locations where sick people ate before becoming ill, has been flagged by the FDA as a supplier. The company announces that it is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico from the US market.
Health officials in Quebec they say that since the beginning of the year, 85 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported, compared to 30 cases in 2025 in the same period (an average of 32 cases per year between 2022 and 2025).
“As in previous years, the majority of cases in Quebec are thought to be linked to exposure, particularly in Mexico,” a spokesperson for the Quebec Department of Health and Social Services said in an email.
None of the cases in Quebec appear to be linked to the outbreak of violence in Michigan, they said.
July 18
On July 17, the FDA said that Taylor Farms de Mexico, based in Guanajuato and also known as Taylor Fresh Foods, announces that it is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico from the US market.
The recall notice issued by Taylor Fresh Foods covers Marketside iceberg lettuce products available at Walmart in the US.
July 19
The FDA points to the difficulty of detecting Cyclospora, saying that its laboratory technicians handled a fresh sample of processed lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico that tested positive for Cyclospora during an import inspection at the US-Mexico border. This turned out to be false, says the FDA.
July 20
On social media, FDA officials clarified that there is still “substantial epidemiologic data” supporting the massive voluntary recall by Taylor Farms.
The Public Health Agency of Canada still says is not currently investigating any Cyclospora outbreaks in Canada.
