The Food and Drug Administration has opened investigations into three new foodborne illness outbreaks, with federal health officials working to identify the source of each.
The FDA’s CORE Response Teams are managing all three investigations, which involve Cyclospora, Salmonella Javiana and Listeria monocytogenes. In each case, the contaminated product has not yet been identified.
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Cyclospora outbreak prompts traceback effort
A new outbreak of Cyclospora has been reported, and the FDA has launched traceback efforts to identify the source.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal illness known as cyclosporiasis. It is most commonly linked to fresh produce, including herbs, leafy greens and berries.
The number of confirmed cases and any associated hospitalizations have not yet been publicly released as the investigation is in its early stages.
There have been several reported cases of cyclosporiasis in Northeast Florida:
- Duval: 4
- St. Johns: 4
- Alachua: 3
- Flagler: 2
- Columbia: 1
Salmonella cases under investigation
A separate outbreak of Salmonella Javiana has also been flagged, with the FDA initiating traceback to pinpoint the food source.
Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the United States, with millions of infections reported each year.
As with the Cyclospora investigation, the specific product linked to this outbreak has not yet been identified, and case count information has not been publicly disclosed.
Listeria triggers traceback, inspection
The third new investigation involves Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause serious illness, particularly in pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
In addition to initiating traceback, the FDA has launched an on-site inspection — a step that signals investigators may have identified a potential point of contamination in the supply chain.
No product has been publicly named at this time.
What consumers should do
The FDA has not issued specific public health advisories for these three investigations, which means no actionable consumer guidance — such as avoiding a particular product — has been recommended yet.
However, consumers who believe they may be experiencing symptoms of foodborne illness are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider immediately and report what they ate in the days before becoming sick. That information can be a critical tool for investigators working to contain an outbreak.
Updates on all three investigations are expected as traceback and inspection efforts progress.