US Declares End of Largest Recorded Cyclosporiasis Outbreak The recent declaration by US health authorities that the nation's largest recorded outbreak of cyclosporiasis has been brought under control is a welcome development, but it should also serve as a stark reminder of systemic failures that allowed this crisis to unfold.
The contaminated iceberg lettuce that sickened nearly 13,000 people across 21 states is not just a cautionary tale about the risks of imported produce; it's a symptom of a larger problem: America's food safety system has been underprepared for modern challenges.
The scale of this outbreak is striking. With 12,883 cases linked to contaminated lettuce, more than double the previous record year of 2019, when about 4,700 illnesses were reported.