CDC says a large multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to processed iceberg lettuce from central Mexico is driving the rise in U.S. cases. If you are asking Is lettuce safe to eat now?, the current warning focuses on that linked product, not every head of lettuce in the market.
The agency says 17,180 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported in the United States since May 1, 2026. That total includes cases in the ongoing multistate outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce and cases not tied to that outbreak, while the same period in 2025 had 1,180 reported cases.
CDC and FDA clusters
CDC is investigating multiple clusters of cyclosporiasis, and CDC and FDA are looking at at least six other clusters whose sources have not yet been confirmed. The agency says the outbreak is part of the 2026 cyclosporiasis season, which runs from May 1 through August 31.
CDC says the people counted in its data became sick in the United States and did not report international travel during the 14 days before they got sick. That leaves the lettuce-linked outbreak as the clearest identified source in the current count, while other clusters remain under investigation.
United States case counts
The CDC data show a sharp jump from the 1,180 cases reported between May 1 and August 31, 2025. Multiple jurisdictions have reported more cases than they did over the same period last year, and the agency says the true number of illnesses is likely higher than the reported total.
State health departments may have more information in their own jurisdictions, and states may report higher case counts than CDC because they can include cases that do not meet CDC's formal reporting criteria. CDC also says cases may not be limited to the locations where known cases have already appeared.
Processed iceberg lettuce
For shoppers, the practical takeaway is narrow but important: CDC's current warning points to processed iceberg lettuce from central Mexico as part of a multistate cyclospora outbreak. If that product is in your home or store, it sits at the center of the investigation, while CDC continues to sort the lettuce-linked cluster from at least six other clusters with no identified source.
CDC says it will issue outbreak notices if sources are identified and there is public health action for consumers to take. For now, the clearest answer is that the reported rise is real, the lettuce-linked cluster is part of it, and the agency still has other clusters to sort through before the picture is complete.
