Michigan eases lettuce advice as cyclosporiasis reports decline

Aug. 6 (Reuters) - Michigan health officials on Thursday advised residents to resume eating lettuce and salad greens, citing a slowdown in new cyclosporiasis infections, after reporting 12,485 cases linked to the outbreak, up 267 cases from a day earlier.

The worst of the outbreak has occurred in Michigan, which reported the first two deaths associated with the outbreak, saying both individuals had significant underlying health conditions.

The outbreak in Michigan has resulted in 279 hospitalizations as of Aug. 6, according to the state health department's latest update.

"After reporting 12,485 cases of cyclosporiasis in Michigan since June 2026, the data now suggest that new cyclosporiasis case reports are slowing, including a downward trend in diarrhea-related emergency department visits," the state health department said in a statement.

Cases of the intestinal infection caused by the cyclospora parasite, which can cause diarrhea, nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms, have climbed to record levels this year, with the current outbreak among the largest caused by foodborne illness in recent U.S. history.

An FDA investigation has linked the multistate outbreak, which has spread to 15 states, to iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants and sourced from privately held Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico, but authorities are still looking for other potential sources.

Consumers in the U.S. have been steering clear of some restaurant chains and buying less lettuce in grocery stores as a multistate outbreak of a parasitic disease has fueled confusion over what is safe to eat.