Is It Safe to Eat Out Right Now? Restaurants Respond as Cyclospora Outbreak Grows

As a nationwide cyclospora outbreak stretches past 1,000 confirmed cases, with health officials still unable to pinpoint a single source, restaurants and diners alike are being forced to weigh how much caution is realistic when eating out.

The CDC had tallied more than 840 confirmed cases as of July 9, though state-level numbers tell a more serious story. Michigan alone has identified over 1,500 cases with 44 hospitalizations, and neighboring Ohio has reported hundreds more. More than two dozen additional states have active investigations underway. Experts believe the true number of infections nationwide is likely in the thousands, since cyclosporiasis is widely underreported and most standard food poisoning tests don't check for the parasite.

Why Dining Out Is Different

Eating at home allows people to control how their produce is washed, stored and cooked, but dining out means trusting someone else to handle that prep work. "Consumers, whether they're at home or at restaurants, have to be a bit more cautious and, frankly, paranoid," Bill Marler, a food safety lawyer who has represented people sickened by the parasite, told USA Today. "It is not pleasant, and it can last for months."

Rodney Rohde, a microbiologist and chair of the Medical Laboratory Science Program at Texas State University, said cyclospora is more resistant to standard chlorine-based cleaning than many other pathogens, and that rinsing alone often isn't enough to remove the parasite if it's lodged in the crevices of berries or leafy greens.

Restaurant Chains Have Mostly Stayed Quiet

USA Today reached out to seven major fast-food chains, Yum Brands (parent company of Taco Bell), McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Jersey Mike's, Burger King, Subway and Wendy's, asking whether they were changing any practices in response to the outbreak. None of them responded.

Chipotle was the lone major chain to respond publicly. "We are aware of the cyclospora investigation and at this time, we don't believe the ingredients we source are associated," said Laurie Schalow, the company's chief corporate affairs and food safety officer, in a statement to USA Today. "We are monitoring the situation closely and evaluating any new information as it becomes available."

A Possible Break in the Investigation

While the broader nationwide outbreak's source remains unidentified, federal investigators have linked at least one specific cluster to a known supplier. The FDA confirmed Friday that salads produced by Taylor Farms de Mexico and served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster locations in Iowa and Nebraska, both owned by Darden Restaurants, appear to be the source of illnesses in those two states. "As a result of the current investigation FDA is increasing its surveillance efforts on green leafy products exported to the U.S. from Mexico," the agency said in a statement.

The finding has already led to legal action. Suzanne Matteis, a Dallas woman who says she contracted cyclosporiasis after eating at a Texas Olive Garden in early July, filed a lawsuit against Darden Restaurants late Friday in Orange County, Florida, where the company is based. Her complaint states she "suffered damages in excess of $15,000" in medical expenses and lost wages. "I just want to get better," she told CBS News, adding that she was still experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms as of this week.

It remains unclear whether the Iowa and Nebraska cases tied to Taylor Farms are connected to the larger, unexplained outbreak centered in Michigan and Ohio, or represent a separate cluster entirely. Dr. Suraj Saggar, chief of infectious disease at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, said it's possible multiple smaller outbreaks are unfolding simultaneously with different sources. "What's different this year is the unusually high number of cases and the fact that investigators still haven't identified a specific source," he said.

Why Tracing the Source Has Been So Difficult

Investigators face several structural obstacles in tracing outbreaks like this one. A single ingredient, such as basil or lettuce, can be used across many different dishes, and food distributors often supply the same products to both restaurants and grocery stores, making it hard to isolate exactly where contaminated food entered the supply chain.

Complicating matters further, the CDC scaled back its Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network in 2025, making cyclospora reporting optional at the state level, according to PBS News. Rohde said the outbreak is likely "wider spread than we realized," pointing to reduced federal public health staffing as a factor limiting how quickly outbreaks like this one can be detected and traced.

What Consumers Can Actually Do

The CDC recommends avoiding food or water that may be contaminated with fecal matter and following safe food preparation practices, including cutting away bruised or damaged portions of produce. Additional guidance for people in outbreak hotspots includes buying whole heads of lettuce rather than pre-washed bags, separating and thoroughly washing cilantro and basil leaves individually, and trimming and peeling green onions before use.

Symptoms of cyclosporiasis include watery, sometimes explosive diarrhea, along with fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite and cramping, and can persist for a month or longer without antibiotic treatment. The illness is not typically life-threatening and does not usually spread directly from person to person.

Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.