- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday said that the ongoing outbreak of cyclosporiasis is “under control.”
- Critics have blasted the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the delays in alerting the public and tracking down the source.
- More than 1,644 cases have been reported, with 94 hospitalizations and no deaths, according to the CDC.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks during a press conference at the Health and Human Services headquarters in Washington, Feb. 23, 2026.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday said that the ongoing outbreak of cyclosporiasis is “under control.”
“We’ve identified theplemented a recall,” Kennedy said, responding to questions during a news briefing about healthcare fraud
The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both under Kennedy’s purview as HHS secretary, have faced criticism for their responses to the outbreak. Critics have blasted the federal agencies for the delays in alerting the public and tracking down theceberg lettuce from central Mexico that was supplied by produce giant Taylor Farms
Some have claimed that agency cuts by the Trump administration have hampered the investigation, although the cyclospora parasite itself presents challenges due to its lengthy incubation period
“Those criticisms are invalid,” Kennedy said during the briefing, responding to a question regarding criticism of the job cuts under his leadership. “We had no cuts in the surveillance program. We did cuts in the FoodNet program, but they were for redundant surveillance.”
FoodNet, or the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, stopped mandatory reporting for six of eight pathogens — including cyclospora — last year due to funding cuts. The organization is a partnership between the CDC, the FDA, 10 state health departments and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
The FDA has concluded that the current cyclospora outbreak is linked to the iceberg lettuce, some of which was served byYum Brands’ Taco Bell. Taylor Farms has recalled the produce linked to the outbreak, while Taco Bell has pulled it from its restaurants
However, the FDA’s messaging about a false positive test for cyclospora in a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce during its investigation sparked confusion, leading the agency to issue a clarification on Monday. It said it still suspects the company’s iceberg lettuce is the
The CDC, FDA and public health officials in multiple states have been investigating the outbreak, with illnesses first having appeared on May 13. So far, more than 1,644 cases have been reported, with 94 hospitalizations and no deaths, according to the CDC
Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.
