Cyclospora outbreak balloons to record

The consumer food-safety emergency has grown into the largest cyclospora outbreak on record. Nationally the outbreak has resulted in 4,173 laboratory-confirmed cases with health authorities aware of more than 7,400 additional suspected cases, Reuters reported, citing CDC data.

At least one case has been reported in 41 states, leading to 308 reported hospitalizations but no deaths, per Reuters.

"When we're seeing 10,000 reported cases, probably the true number of cases is 10 to 20 X (times) that," former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said on CNBC. "This is the largest outbreak we've ever seen in history of cyclospora."

Michigan alone reported 9,253 cases as of Monday, an increase of 1,077 since Friday, with 160 hospitalizations, Reuters reported. Ohio has reported roughly 500 confirmed cases, Indiana about 300, North Carolina about 300 and New York about 300.

Gottlieb said contamination clusters in the Great Lakes region, New York and North Carolina "appeared to be linked to potentially parsley and cilantro from Central Mexico, though investigators have not determined the exact source," warning that raw sewage could have reached growing areas through irrigation water, flooding or a sewage canal breach.

Some larger growers and retailers were no longer sourcing produce from the region, he said: "A lot of that product is being taken out of supply chains, so that should mitigate some of the ongoing risk."

The list continues to grow

The recall list keeps growing. Midwest Poultry Services recalled nearly 1.6 million dozen white and brown cage-free eggs from Texas over salmonella enteritidis contamination, and 98 people in 17 states have been infected with 26 hospitalizations, per Reuters.

The recalled eggs carry codes P-1950 or 0840962 with a Julian date between 157 and 184 and were sold at Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana, at Brookshire Grocery stores across five states and other smaller retail outlets.

Separately, Maple Leaf Foods recalled over 12,000 pounds of bacon imported to the U.S. from Canada due to an import-inspection violation, Reuters reported; the affected Royale Natural Applewood Smoked and TOP VALU Uncured Hardwood Smoked bacon was distributed to Grocery Outlet in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Consumers should discard recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, recalled eggs and recalled bacon immediately and return them for refunds.