If you read our original breakdown of the Taylor Farms lettuce recall recently, brace yourself — the numbers have grown. A lot. Here’s what’s changed since then:

The Numbers, Then vs. Now

When we first covered this, the CDC was tracking nearly 7,000 confirmed and suspected cases across 34 states. As of the latest update:

  • Over 6,700 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis
  • Roughly 11,500 additional suspected cases still being investigated
  • 45 states now reporting illnesses tied to the outbreak

For context, this time last year, the entire country had only reported 249 cyclosporiasis cases total. This outbreak isn’t just big… it’s genuinely one of the largest of its kind on record. And it keeps growing.

Photo: Pexels

The Hard Part: Two Deaths Have Now Been Reported

On August 3, the CDC confirmed the outbreak’s first two deaths, both in Michigan, in people who had underlying health conditions. The CDC has noted that cyclosporiasis is usually not life-threatening, and the vast majority of the tens of thousands affected have recovered or are recovering. Still, it’s a serious reminder that “usually mild” doesn’t mean “risk-free,” especially for anyone who’s older, immunocompromised, or managing another health condition. If that’s you or someone in your household, it’s worth taking extra care to check for recalled product and to see a doctor promptly if symptoms show up.

Has The Actual Recall Grown Too?

Good news here, at least: the recalled product distribution list itself hasn’t expanded — it’s still the same 27 states from our original article. What has grown is how many states are reporting illnesses, which isn’t the same thing. Some of those additional cases are still being investigated for links to other, unrelated sources of Cyclospora, since the CDC tracks all national cyclosporiasis cases, not just this one outbreak.

One More Restaurant To Add To The List

Our original piece flagged Taco Bell locations in five states. Since then, Jack in the Box has confirmed that recalled lettuce also reached its restaurants in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. If you’ve eaten at either chain recently in an affected state, it’s one more reason to keep an eye on any digestive symptoms over the next couple of weeks.

Photo: Pexels

What Hasn’t Changed

  • The guidance is still the same: if you’ve got recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce, throw it out, don’t wash around it
  • Full refunds are still available at your original point of purchase
  • If you’re dealing with diarrhea that’s sticking around, especially if it’s been more than a few days, it’s worth calling your doctor and mentioning Cyclospora specifically

We’ll keep updating as the numbers change — but for now, if you thought this outbreak was winding down, it’s actually still very much active.