July 2026 Cyclospora Outbreak

The California LGMA is closely monitoring information released by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services regarding an ongoing outbreak of Cyclospora infections for which Michigan health officials have identified lettuce as a leading suspect. The investigation remains ongoing, and other potential food sources have not been ruled out.

California leafy greens producers take this situation seriously. Through the California LGMA, participating growers follow one of the world's most rigorous mandatory food safety programs designed to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Protecting public health remains our industry's highest priority.

It is important to note that Cyclospora has historically been more commonly associated with imported fresh produce than with domestically produced leafy greens. According the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) cyclosporiasis is most common in tropical and subtopical regions.

According to public reports, investigators are relying primarily on interviews with people who became ill and were asked to recall foods they consumed during the two weeks before becoming sick. While these interviews are an important part of any outbreak investigation, they represent just one step in determining the source of an outbreak.

Complicating the picture is the fact that the CDC discontinued routine national reporting of Cyclospora illnesses in 2025 following federal budget reductions. As a result, CDC case counts may differ significantly from those reported by individual state health agencies.

LGMA has reached out to officials at the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to obtain additional information and will continue to keep members informed as the investigation progresses.

At this time, neither FDA nor state health officials have announced a traceback to any specific grower, processor, shipper, production region or brand.