Cyclosporiasis Cases Keep Shoppers, Grocers on Edge in Michigan

Michigan health officials have officially cleared shoppers to put lettuce back in their grocery carts, but fear over cyclosporiasis is still lingering in stores across the state.

An investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration has linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms operations in central Mexico. The illness has now spread to 15 states, with Michigan being the worst affected.

According to Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services, the state has reported more than 12,000 cases connected to the outbreak. Two deaths have also been recorded, both involving people with serious existing health conditions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said nationwide confirmed cases have crossed 10,000, with total confirmed and probable cases nearing 23,000 across the country. Cases have slowed in Michigan since the peak of the outbreak, but investigations are still ongoing in several states.

Despite the all-clear from health authorities, consumer confidence in fresh produce has taken a hit, and not just for the recalled items. Grocery sales data shows the impact spread well beyond lettuce itself.

Market research firm NielsenIQ reported that fresh lettuce sales across the US fell 9 percent in the week ending July 18, compared to the previous week. Grocers say the drop has not fully recovered even after the safety warning was lifted.

Angie Bussinger, who owns Sunrise Market in Au Gres, Michigan, said lettuce sales at her store still have not picked back up. She said customers also became cautious about other produce like raspberries, blueberries and strawberries in July, driven by online rumours that seeded fruits could also carry contamination risk.

Bussinger said she has kept her lettuce and salad section largely empty for now, adding that she does not want her store associated with the outbreak the way some restaurant chains have been.

Fast food chain Taco Bell, which was linked to the outbreak, saw customer footfall drop more than 11 percent on August 1 compared to the same day last year, according to data from research firm Placer.ai. Salad chain Sweetgreen also said it expects a 7 to 8 percent drop in comparable sales for the year because of the outbreak’s impact.

Reactions have varied by region. In Wisconsin, where far fewer cases have been reported, some supermarkets began offering discounts on Taylor Farms products instead of pulling them from shelves, according to store staff.

Health officials continue to advise consumers to stay alert for symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea and stomach discomfort, which are commonly linked to cyclospora infection. Officials have not identified any single confirmed source beyond the recalled Taylor Farms lettuce products so far.