Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended the federal government’s response to an ongoing cyclospora outbreak on Tuesday, telling reporters the situation is “under control” despite mounting criticism of agency delays in tracking the foodborne illness.
Speaking at a news briefing on health care fraud, Kennedy said authorities have identified the source of the outbreak and that affected companies have initiated recalls. The parasite has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce from central Mexico supplied by produce giant Taylor Farms.
“We’ve identified the source of the outbreak, and the companies that are involved have implemented a recall,” Kennedy said in response to questions about the federal response.
Outbreak Scope and Source
The outbreak has sickened more than 1,644 people since illnesses first appeared on May 13, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those cases, 94 have required hospitalization, though no deaths have been reported. The CDC, Food and Drug Administration, and state health officials across multiple states have been investigating the source.
The FDA concluded that iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms is the likely culprit. Some of the contaminated produce was served at Taco Bell locations operated by Yum Brands. Taylor Farms has since recalled the affected lettuce, and Taco Bell has removed it from its restaurants.
Agency Cuts Under Scrutiny
The federal response has drawn sharp criticism, with some observers pointing to job cuts under the Trump administration as a potential factor hampering the investigation. Kennedy pushed back forcefully against those claims during the briefing.
“Those criticisms are invalid,” Kennedy said. “We had no cuts in the surveillance program. We did cuts in the FoodNet program, but they were for redundant surveillance.”
FoodNet, the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, is a partnership between the CDC, FDA, 10 state health departments, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Due to funding cuts last year, the program stopped mandatory reporting for six of eight pathogens it tracks, including cyclospora.
Kennedy acknowledged that the cyclospora parasite itself presents investigative challenges due to its lengthy incubation period, which can complicate efforts to trace outbreaks back to their source.
Confusion Over Test Results
Adding to the scrutiny, the FDA sparked confusion with its messaging about test results during the investigation. A false positive test for cyclospora in a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce led the agency to issue a clarification on Monday, reaffirming that it still suspects the company’s iceberg lettuce as the outbreak source despite the misleading test result.
The incident highlighted challenges in communicating complex scientific findings to the public during active outbreak investigations, when preliminary results may shift as more data becomes available.
Both the FDA and CDC operate under Kennedy’s purview as HHS secretary. Critics have focused on the agencies’ perceived delays in alerting the public and identifying the contaminated product, though federal officials maintain that the investigation proceeded appropriately given the scientific challenges involved.
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/21/cyclospora-rfk-jr-says-outbreak-is-under-control.html
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