FDA says cyclospora found at Mexican farm linked to major lettuce outbreak

US inspectors have detected the parasite cyclospora at a farm in Mexico identified as the source of the largest foodborne illness outbreak of its kind in American history, the Food and Drug Administration said on Friday, according to The Guardian.

The announcement comes after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had already declared an end to the outbreak, which the FDA says infected nearly 13,000 people across the country. The outbreak was linked to lettuce traced back to the Mexican farm.

What cyclospora is and why it matters

Cyclospora is a parasite that can cause a prolonged intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis, with symptoms including watery diarrhea, cramping, bloating, fatigue and loss of appetite. It is typically spread through contaminated food or water, and fresh produce such as leafy greens and herbs has previously been linked to outbreaks in the United States.

The scale of this outbreak — affecting close to 13,000 people — makes it the largest cyclospora-linked foodborne illness event on record in the US, according to the report, underscoring the challenges of tracing contamination back through complex produce supply chains that span international borders.

The FDA's confirmation that the parasite was present at the implicated farm adds a direct physical finding to what had previously been established through epidemiological investigation. The agency's report did not specify what corrective actions, if any, have been required of the farm, or whether further imports from the facility will face restrictions.