Fresh Produce Industry Marks Close of Cyclosporiasis Outbreak, Points to Next Steps in Detection and Traceability

WASHINGTON — Federal health officials today declared an end to the cyclosporiasis outbreak associated with shredded iceberg lettuce. The International Fresh Produce Association, which represents the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain, pointed to the close communication among FDA, CDC, and the industry over the past two months. 

“Seeing an official end to this outbreak is welcome news, and we are grateful to FDA and CDC for the care they brought to this investigation,” said Dr. Max Teplitski, IFPA chief science officer. “This was a hard case. Cyclospora usually takes about a week to make someone sick, so investigators were working weeks behind the contamination, with the product long gone. Our teams stand ready to support and to work alongside the agencies, and we will keep at that work. We will not rest until we identify the root cause of this outbreak so that the lessons we learn prevent another event.”

Amid this outbreak, the association has continued to urge Congress and the administration to fully fund FDA’s food safety work, and it continues to support putting the Food Traceability Rule into effect without further delay.

“With the outbreak being declared over, consumers need to eat fruits and vegetables at pre-outbreak levels and beyond. At the same time, we want workable standards that reflect the realities of bringing fresh produce to market,” said IFPA Chief Executive Officer Cathy Burns. “Fresh produce supply chains are complex, and no single grower, company, restaurant or retailer can answer for the whole chain. We stand ready to support investigations by FDA, CDC, and their partner agencies to identify the root cause. We have advocated for end-to-end traceability for years, and we will keep at it until traceability is implemented. We will continue advocating for investment in research and building a food safety culture where the entire supply chain holds itself and its partners accountable.”

Fresh fruits and vegetables remain among the healthiest foods available. IFPA will continue to publish what the evidence shows and what remains unknown, and will keep working with regulators, researchers, and members so the next investigation moves faster than this one. 

About the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)

The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support. We exist to bring the industry together to create a vibrant future for all. We grow our members’ prosperity by conducting advocacy, connecting people and ideas; and offering guidance that allows us all to take action with purpose and confidence. IFPA represents member companies from small family businesses to the largest international corporations throughout the global fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations.