The Trump administration is facing criticism for its slow response to a nationwide Cyclospora outbreak that has now sickened nearly 23,000 people across 47 states, killed two people, and hospitalised more than 500. Despite Michigan officials confirming the first two deaths and federal health officials expanding the list of affected states from nine to fifteen, these updates have not yet appeared on the CDC or FDA's public outbreak pages, leaving Americans uncertain about the safety of fresh produce. The Department of Health and Human Services said the information would be updated "this week," while sources indicate the CDC only now plans to establish a "formal response team," weeks after the outbreak began in June.

Michigan has been hit hardest, with 12,218 cases since 22 June, and the two deaths involved patients with significant underlying health conditions worsened by dehydration. Investigations have linked cases in fifteen states to Taylor Farms' shredded iceberg lettuce, grown in Mexico and distributed to Taco Bell and other retailers, though the company has declined to disclose full details of its recall, including volumes and distribution locations. The FDA also briefly and erroneously announced a positive Cyclospora test on Taylor Farms lettuce before retracting it as a false positive, adding to concerns about the clarity and reliability of official communications throughout the outbreak.