With the number of cyclospora cases falling, at least in Michigan, it is now safe to consume lettuce and bagged salad greens again.

Michigan has been at the epicenter of the largest cyclospora outbreak in the United States. State authorities announced Thursday that new cases of cyclosporiasis are decreasing. The number of emergency room visits for diarrhea, a common symptom of the parasitic gastrointestinal illness, is also declining.

Michigan has reported 12,485 confirmed or suspected cases. Two individuals with underlying health conditions, who fell ill before the July 17 recall of iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico by Taylor Farms, have died. The state was the first to link these illnesses to the recalled shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms or Taco Bell, a brand of Yum Brands (YUM), which has stopped serving lettuce in some US regions.

However, the source of the infection remains unidentified, making it challenging for health officials to provide clear guidance on which foods are safe to eat.

This year's outbreak in Michigan dwarfs previous small-scale incidents in the state, which recorded only about 50 cyclospora cases in 2025. The complexity this summer, both in Michigan and nationwide, stems from the possibility of multiple simultaneous cyclospora outbreaks. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 10,468 confirmed cases across 47 states, with an additional 12,255 suspected cases. Over 500 people have been hospitalized.

The US Food and Drug Administration stated this week that it expects the number of confirmed cases nationwide to rise further.

Michigan health officials now believe most people were infected in late June or early July, and that contaminated lettuce is no longer on the market.

This is positive news for fast-casual restaurants like CAVA Group Inc (CAVA), Sweetgreen Inc (SG), and Taco Bell, which have experienced reduced foot traffic this summer as consumers avoided salads or any type of lettuce. The private chain Salad and Go, which operates 70 locations, has filed for bankruptcy, citing the outbreak along with rising oil prices and reduced consumer spending.

On Thursday, Sweetgreen Inc (SG) lowered its full-year outlook, attributing the decline in sales to consumer concerns about cyclospora, even though the chain does not serve iceberg lettuce.

Nevertheless, Sweetgreen Inc (SG), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), and several other companies are now facing another foodborne illness issue: jalapeño peppers contaminated with salmonella, which is more common than cyclospora. The CDC said Wednesday that these peppers, grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, were shipped by Coast Citrus Distributors. Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) and the private fast-casual Mexican chain Qdoba have stopped serving the affected peppers, while Qdoba and Sweetgreen Inc (SG) have removed them from their menus entirely.