Cyclospora Outbreak Causes Decline in Salad Sales Across U.S.

A significant outbreak of cyclosporiasis has led to a notable decrease in salad and fresh greens purchases among U.S. households during July. Research from Numerator indicates that more than 26 million households stopped buying these products by the end of the month.

The outbreak, linked to the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, prompted major retailers like Walmart to recall bagged iceberg lettuce salads and for Taco Bell to remove lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms from its menu. Despite these actions, Taylor Farms stated that none of its branded products were associated with the outbreak.

In addition to grocery store impacts, quick-service restaurants experienced a decline in salad sales, with a reported drop of over 16% in customer visits. While the FDA has assured that all recalled products are off the market, health officials continue to advise caution, particularly for vulnerable populations, as the source of some cases remains unidentified.