Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a press conference at Health and Human Services Headquarters in Washington, February 23, 2026.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that the ongoing cystosporosis outbreak is “under control.”
“We have identified the source of the infection and the companies involved have been recalled,” President Kennedy said in response to a question at a press conference about health care fraud.
The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both under President Kennedy’s jurisdiction as secretary of the Department of Health, have faced criticism for their response to the outbreak. Critics have accused federal agencies of being slow to warn the public and trace the source of the outbreak, which they say has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico supplied by agricultural giant Taylor Farms.
While the Cyclospora parasite itself poses challenges due to its long incubation period, some argue that the Trump administration’s cuts to government agencies are hampering investigations.
“These criticisms are invalid,” Kennedy said at a news conference, responding to a question about criticism of layoffs under his leadership. “There were no cuts to the monitoring program. There were cuts to the Foodnet program, but that was due to redundant monitoring.”
Last year, FoodNet (Foodborne Disease Prevention and Surveillance Network) discontinued reporting requirements for six of its eight pathogens (including Cyclospora) due to funding cuts. The organization is a partnership between the CDC, FDA, 10 state health departments, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The FDA has concluded that the current Cyclospora outbreak is associated with iceberg lettuce. yum brand“Taco Bell”. Taylor Farms recalled produce linked to the outbreak, and Taco Bell removed produce from its restaurants.
But the FDA’s message that a Taylor Farms lettuce sample had a false positive test result for Cyclospora during the investigation caused confusion, and the agency issued an explanation Monday. He said the company’s iceberg lettuce remains suspected to be the source of the infection.
The CDC, FDA, and public health officials in multiple states have been investigating the outbreak since the disease first appeared on May 13. More than 1,644 cases have been reported, 94 people have been hospitalized and there have been no deaths, according to the CDC.
