Scott Gottlieb, the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), stated on Sunday, July 26th, 2026, that the agency does not yet have the outbreak of cyclosporiasis under control. While acknowledging the FDA's efforts to isolate the source to central Mexico and specific farms, Gottlieb expressed uncertainty about whether this is the only affected growing region.

Officials from the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and multiple states have linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, supplied by Taylor Farms. The outbreak has caused at least 1,947 cases across nine states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Nearly 100 people have been hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported, according to the CDC.

Taylor Farms announced on Friday, July 24th, 2026, that it removed all potentially implicated products from the marketplace and issued a broader recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from the region following federal inquiries.

Despite these measures, Gottlieb noted that the FDA has faced "challenges with communications" during the outbreak. This contrasts with statements earlier in the week by Kennedy Jr., whose department oversees the FDA and CDC, claiming the outbreak was "under control."

Sources