A cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened hundreds across the United States remains not fully under control, according to Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Gottlieb said Sunday that while the FDA has made progress in identifying potential sources of the foodborne illness, public health officials have not yet contained the spread.
"I don't think it's under control yet, per se," Gottlieb said in a television appearance. "I think that they've done a good job, FDA has, isolating this to central Mexico and some specific farms as a likely source."
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a microscopic parasite that contaminates food or water. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and fatigue. The illness typically resolves with treatment but can last weeks or months without medical intervention.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics say the focus should remain on targeted investigation rather than expanding federal regulatory authority. Business groups argue that additional mandates could burden agricultural producers and increase costs for consumers at a time of elevated food prices.
"The FDA is doing exactly what it should do—tracing the source and working with Mexican authorities," said an industry representative from a produce trade association. "We don't need new regulations. We need cooperation and better tracking systems that don't punish compliant farmers."
Republican lawmakers have emphasized that the current outbreak response demonstrates existing food safety frameworks are functioning as designed, with officials identifying potential sources within weeks of detecting the cluster of illnesses.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive public health advocates argue that the outbreak underscores the need for stronger FDA oversight of imported produce. Consumer groups aligned with Democratic priorities have called for increased inspection resources and mandatory disclosure requirements for foreign food suppliers.
"This is exactly what happens when we underfund food safety infrastructure," said one Senate Democrat who spoke on background to discuss ongoing committee work. "The FDA needs more tools to track supply chains from farm to table, especially for imports."
Democratic lawmakers have also pointed to the outbreak as evidence supporting proposed legislation that would give the agency expanded authority to mandate recall powers for contaminated produce without waiting for voluntary compliance from companies.
What the Numbers Show
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported over 500 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis across 23 states this summer. The agency notes that actual infection numbers may be significantly higher since many cases go unreported.
According to FDA data, approximately 70 percent of fresh produce consumed in the United States comes from domestic sources, while Mexico remains one of the largest foreign suppliers of vegetables and fruits. Food imports from Mexico have grown by roughly 12 percent over the past five years.
The CDC estimates that foodborne illnesses affect an estimated 48 million Americans annually, resulting in 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year.
The Bottom Line
Health officials continue to investigate the outbreak while advising consumers to wash produce thoroughly and practice safe food handling. Gottlieb suggested the situation may improve as summer progresses and growing seasons shift away from the implicated regions.
The episode has renewed debate over food safety oversight mechanisms in an era of complex global supply chains. Both sides acknowledge that identifying contamination sources quickly remains a priority, though they disagree on whether new regulatory authorities are needed to achieve that goal.