Ex-Trump FDA official warns cyclospora outbreak nearing catastrophic level

A former top Food and Drug Administration official who served under President Donald Trump has warned that the federal response to a sweeping national cyclospora outbreak is nearing a catastrophic level as infections continue to mount across the country.

Frank Yiannas, who served as the FDA's deputy commissioner for food policy and response from 2018 to 2023, voiced his concerns in an interview with Politico published Friday. He called for an independent assessment of the government's handling of the crisis, pointing to an unusually high volume of illnesses, consumer confusion, and what he described as inadequate federal coordination and communication.

My point is not to find fault, but to find facts on how we can further strengthen the system, Yiannas said. It is not being critical of any particular agency, but it is being critical of the system. In some respects, I think there has been some dismantling of the system.

The criticism comes as federal health officials continue investigating multiple cyclospora outbreaks nationwide, including a large multistate outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico. It also follows a turbulent week for the FDA after the agency announced that a laboratory finding indicating cyclospora in a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce turned out to be a false positive, prompting further confusion and questions about the investigation and public messaging.

They just went too fast and they made a mistake, Yiannas, who has also served as a vice president for food safety at Walmart, told Politico. They should share more about how and why it happened and what they will do to prevent it in the future.

Newsweek reached out to the White House, CDC, FDA, and Taylor Farms for comment.

What is the latest on the cyclospora outbreak in the US?

The outbreak has grown into one of the largest cyclospora events on record in the U.S. At least 1,947 people have been sickened by the multistate cyclospora outbreak that federal officials linked to Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce. Several other outbreaks have also added to this year's cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it had received reports of 4,173 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired cases as of July 24 and is aware of more than 7,400 additional cases that have not yet been laboratory confirmed. The agency has also reported 308 hospitalizations and no deaths.

State totals are significantly higher because many states count both confirmed and probable cases. Michigan alone has reported more than 8,000 illnesses, underscoring the gap between federal and state surveillance figures.

President Trump addressed the outbreak publicly for the first time on Friday when Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked when it would be safe to eat lettuce again. Trump responded that he had not been thinking about the issue and joked about whether Doocy had been eating lettuce recently. The exchange came after weeks of growing concern over the outbreak and days after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the situation was under control.

Questions have also emerged about federal monitoring of the parasite. In 2025, FoodNet, a longstanding surveillance program jointly run by the CDC, FDA and state health departments, made reporting of cyclospora optional rather than mandatory. Experts remain divided over how much that decision affected the current outbreak, but several have argued that reductions in surveillance and public-health resources make tracking foodborne outbreaks more difficult.

Why did Frank Yiannas leave the FDA?

Yiannas resigned from the FDA in January 2023, effective February 24, 2023. While his departure came amid scrutiny of the agency's handling of the 2022 infant formula crisis, Yiannas said the main reason for leaving was his frustration with the agency's organizational structure.

What is cyclospora and how does it affect people?

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite known as Cyclospora cayetanensis that causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis. People become infected after consuming contaminated food or water, most often fresh produce exposed to fecal contamination.

The illness is best known for causing prolonged watery or explosive diarrhea, but patients can also experience severe stomach cramps, nausea, bloating, weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite and recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms. Symptoms often do not appear until about a week after exposure and can persist for weeks or months without treatment.

Cyclospora is not typically spread directly from one person to another because the parasite must first mature in the environment before becoming infectious. That characteristic can make outbreaks especially difficult to trace and contain.

Doctors typically treat cyclospora with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, commonly known as Bactrim. While most people recover fully, severe dehydration and prolonged illness can occur, particularly among vulnerable populations.

What foods are safe to eat during the cyclospora outbreak?

Federal investigators have focused much of their attention on a multistate outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico and served at Taco Bell locations in nine states.

Taylor Farms issued a recall on July 17 covering iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The CDC advises consumers not to eat recalled products and to throw them away or return them if purchased.

Health officials stress that consumers do not need to avoid all lettuce or fresh produce. However, anyone who may have purchased recalled iceberg lettuce should follow recall guidance. Investigators also caution the lettuce-linked outbreak may not explain all cyclospora cases reported this summer, and several additional investigations remain ongoing.

Cyclospora is most often linked to fresh produce that is eaten raw, particularly leafy greens, fresh herbs such as cilantro and basil, and berries including raspberries. Experts say these foods can be more vulnerable because the parasite can cling to rough surfaces, tiny crevices, or cut edges, making it difficult to remove completely with washing alone.

Safer options for consumers who want to reduce their risk during an outbreak may include fruits and vegetables with protective peels or outer coverings that are removed before eating, such as bananas, avocados, oranges, mangoes, pineapples and kiwi. Some food safety specialists also note that removing the outer leaves of heads of lettuce or cabbage may help reduce exposure. Cooked vegetables can be another lower-risk choice, since heat is known to kill cyclospora, whereas washing alone may not eliminate all of the parasite.

For consumers, experts continue to recommend following FDA recall notices, washing produce when appropriate and seeking medical care if symptoms such as persistent diarrhea, cramping or severe fatigue develop after eating fresh produce.

How has Taylor Farms responded to the outbreak?

Taylor Farms said food safety remains its highest priority and said that none of its products that have been linked to the outbreak have tested positive for cyclospora.

We are passionate about helping people live healthier lives through fresh produce, and the safety of our food is paramount, the company said.

Taylor Farms said it immediately removed potentially implicated products from the market before expanding the action into a broader voluntary recall covering all iceberg lettuce sourced from the affected region. It has also voluntarily suspended iceberg lettuce sourcing and production from central Mexico.

The company said it has commissioned independent experts to conduct a comprehensive review of food safety practices at its central Mexico facility and, as of July 18, had temporarily suspended production of all products at the site, not just iceberg lettuce.

The company said that according to the FDA, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for cyclospora as of July 24, 2026.

Taylor Farms added: We are confident in our food and food safety systems and will continue to be transparent as more information becomes available.

What is the history of major cyclospora outbreaks?

Cyclospora was rarely recognized as a foodborne illness in North America until the mid-1990s after a widespread outbreak linked to Guatemalan raspberries. There were 1,465 confirmed cases across 20 states, Washington, D.C., and parts of Canada. Investigators traced the illnesses to imported fresh raspberries, and concerns about agricultural water quality and farming practices ultimately led to a voluntary suspension of Guatemalan raspberry exports to North America. The outbreak also helped prompt the CDC to designate cyclosporiasis as a nationally notifiable disease beginning in 1999.

Another significant outbreak followed in 2013, when hundreds of illnesses reported across multiple states were ultimately linked to more than one contaminated food source. Restaurant-associated cases in Iowa and Nebraska were traced to salad mix imported from Mexico, while illnesses in Texas were linked to fresh cilantro, also from Mexico.

The two largest outbreaks on record came later. In 2018, contaminated salad mix served at McDonald's restaurants, along with other fresh produce sold through convenience stores, resulted in 2,299 confirmed illnesses. The following year, fresh basil imported from Mexico was linked to 2,408 confirmed cases. That was the largest outbreak ever recorded in the U.S.