A fresh CBS/YouGov survey released Sunday underscores the deepening consumer fallout from the cyclospora outbreak, with 40% of U.S. adults reporting they are buying or eating less produce. The poll, conducted July 22-24 among 2,193 adults nationally, reveals a sharp shift in consumer behavior as the parasitic infection linked to bagged iceberg lettuce continues to spread.
Only 4% of respondents said they are eating more produce, while 56% reported no change in their diet. The findings come as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) struggles to regain credibility after a series of missteps in its investigation.
FDA Under Fire After False Positive
Earlier this month, the FDA launched an inquiry into the outbreak, which has sickened over 1,000 people with the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. The agency initially blamed iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in central Mexico, but retracted those test results on July 19 after company executives met privately with White House and FDA officials. The Trump administration has since maintained that epidemiological evidence still points to that lettuce as the source, despite the false positive.
The episode has severely dented public trust. According to the poll, 47% of Americans say they do not trust the FDA to manage the outbreak, while 40% express some confidence. Only 13% have “a lot” of trust in the agency’s ability to contain the crisis.
Consumer Anxiety and Vulnerable Foods
The outbreak has heightened scrutiny of high-risk produce, including prepackaged bagged salads, leafy greens, basil, cilantro, and berries—items often consumed raw and with textured surfaces that can harbor parasites. Cyclospora causes an intestinal infection marked by watery diarrhea, severe fatigue, muscle aches, abdominal cramps, bloating, and gas.
Industry observers note that the consumer pullback could have lasting economic implications for produce growers and retailers already grappling with supply chain disruptions. The poll’s margin of error is 2.7 percentage points.
The FDA’s credibility crisis is compounded by broader communication failures within the Trump administration, as critics argue that mixed messages have eroded public confidence. Meanwhile, former FDA officials have called for an independent probe into the outbreak response, warning that the agency’s handling may have worsened the crisis.
As the outbreak spreads to nine states, consumers remain wary. The poll suggests that without a clear and consistent message from federal health authorities, the trend of reduced produce consumption could persist, further straining the food supply chain.
