California launches cyclospora research following Taylor Farms-linked outbreak

Lizzie Kane, The Sacramento Bee on Nov 12, 2026

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Department of Food and Agriculture will conduct research on cyclospora following the national foodborne illness outbreak this summer.

The agency said it is using $250,000 of unused specialty block grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support a broader food safety research project. The state agriculture department is applying for additional funds from USDA for the initiative, CDFA Secretary Karen Ross said.

Ross told the California State Board of Food and Agriculture at its November meeting that the agency has not done as much research on cyclospora compared to other topics because the foodborne illness is not endemic to the state. Cyclospora is a stomach bug caused by a parasite that leads to severe diarrhea. Ross intends to use the unspent dollars to understand if more work, such as tests and additional monitoring, needs to be done to prevent future cyclospora outbreaks.

“It’s really important that we get as many answers as we can,” Ross told The Sacramento Bee. “What did we learn? Are there some gaps in the system of how this spread so far? It was a devastating summer.”

A Food and Drug Administration investigation linked the outbreak to contaminated lettuce grown in Mexico distributed by the Salinas-based leafy green giant Taylor Fresh Foods, more commonly known as Taylor Farms. The shredded iceberg lettuce sickened thousands, with no cases reported in California. The product was recalled by the company. Taylor Farms is the leading global producer of salads, according to its website.

Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis occur when a person with the cyclospora parasite and poor hand hygiene handles food. Once the food is contaminated, it can spread to consumers.

Taylor Farms grows and processes produce throughout North America, including Mexico, a region where cyclospora is endemic. Outbreaks in the U.S. have historically been linked to imported produce, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Overall produce sales are still down in the state following the outbreak, Ross said at the meeting.

The unspent grant money from this year is not unusual, according to Ross, who said some projects come in under budget or are not able to implement their plans as originally proposed. The state was awarded over $24 million in federal grant funds last year.

California’s research joins a national effort from the FDA for post-outbreak responses. The FDA published a 10-point list in October on its planned actions prior to the 2027 growing season, including increased surveillance of crops associated with cyclospora and enhanced laboratory capacity in Mexico.

The CDC declared the cyclospora outbreak over in September.

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