Ex-FDA chief Gottlieb: cyclospora outbreak "not under control"

On CBS's Face the Nation (July 26), former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb directly contradicted HHS Secretary Kennedy's July 21 "under control" claim, called Taylor Farms' White House intervention "not standard," and pinned the early breakdown on CDC. A state-report tally now puts the fifty-state case floor near 15,500 as Ohio passes 2,596. Plus a Nara infant formula botulism testing update, and the recalled eggs and tracked outbreaks hold.

The credibility clash over this summer's cyclospora outbreak moved to network television on Sunday, and the former FDA commissioner came down on the side of the case count. Asked on CBS's Face the Nation (July 26) whether the outbreak is "under control," as HHS Secretary Kennedy declared July 21, Dr. Scott Gottlieb answered plainly: "I don't think it's under control yet, per se."

He credited the FDA with doing "a good job" isolating the source to central Mexico and specific farms, but said the outbreak is "not fully under control yet because we don't know for sure that that's the only growing region where this is coming from." He also faulted the agency's public face, saying "there hasn't been as much communication from the agency as you might expect."

On the political angle that has shadowed this recall, Gottlieb was blunt. The Wall Street Journal reported that Taylor Farms contacted the White House seeking more time before the government publicly linked the company to the outbreak. "It was not standard operating procedure," Gottlieb told host Margaret Brennan. "I dealt with outbreaks in romaine lettuce and spinach. I never heard from the White House on those things." He put the early investigative lapse on CDC, not FDA: "CDC really didn't seem to be as involved as the agency normally would be. Michigan public health officials led that response."

The numbers keep climbing under that strained response. The CDC's outbreak page (updated July 24) counts 1,947 cases across 9 states, at least 98 hospitalizations, and no deaths, with illness onsets from June 22 through July 20. Its separate surveillance page lists 4,173 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases plus more than 7,400 additional reported cases not yet confirmed. State reports run higher because they include probable cases: a state-by-state aggregation by food-safety attorney Bill Marler (July 26) puts the fifty-state floor near 15,500, with Ohio at 2,596, Indiana 684, Illinois 513, and New York 666. Michigan, the epicenter, reports 8,176 cases and 160 hospitalizations as of July 24.

The recall behind all of this is unchanged. Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico on July 17. At retail that means Walmart Marketside 12oz and 24oz Iceberg Salad and 8oz and 16oz Shredded Lettuce with Best if Used By dates of July 18 through August 3, sold in 15 states, plus foodservice distribution across 27 states. The CDC's guidance is direct: do not eat recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico; throw it out or return it. Washing does not remove Cyclospora, which is embedded in the leaf. Walmart refunds are at 1-800-925-6278; Taylor Farms at 855-455-0098. (The federal funding cuts straining Michigan's response were covered here Sunday.)

Tracking

Recalled eggs, still in the sell-by window. The Salmonella outbreak tied to Midwest Poultry's recalled eggs holds at 98 illnesses, 26 hospitalizations, and no deaths across 17 states, per the CDC's July 24 update. Seventy-three of the 98 are Texans, food-safety attorney Bill Marler noted (July 26). The 1,589,577 dozen eggs (Kroger, Simple Truth, Brookshire's, Country Morning, Sunups) carry plant code P-1950 or 840962 with a Julian date of 157 to 184 and sell-by dates of July 20 through August 17, so recalled cartons can still be in a refrigerator. Return them to the store or call 574-405-9531.

Nara infant formula botulism, testing update. Nara Organics posted a July 24 update saying the FDA informed the company on July 17 that all its tests on 27 unopened cans from the three implicated lots were negative for the botulism toxin; one open can taken from a sick infant's home had tested positive, and another open can tested negative. The case count holds at four hospitalized infants in California (2), Pennsylvania, and Washington, with no new cases in June or July, per the CDC. The June 13 recall of all Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula, sold at Target, Target.com, and Nara.com from July 2025 through June 2026, stands. Do not feed it to infants.

California Dairies powdered milk, fourth month. The FDA Major Recall of 2.7 million pounds of nonfat dry milk and buttermilk powder (recalled April 20) has spread to more than 40 downstream products, including Zapp's and Dirty brand potato chips, Ghirardelli powdered beverage mixes, and snack seasonings, sold at Costco, Target, Walmart, and others. No illnesses have been confirmed. Check the FDA page for the current product list before assuming a pantry item is safe.

Clover Hill soft cheese listeria. The outbreak holds at 12 illnesses, 10 hospitalizations, and 1 death in Maryland, unchanged since late June, per the CDC. The related La Ceiba requeson, sold at La Colonia and Selectos Latinos, expired July 10, now 17 days past, so any remaining should be thrown out.

Kia Telluride, park outside. The 462,869-vehicle 2020 to 2024 Telluride fire recall (NHTSA 26V430, a recall-of-recall replacing 24V407) remains live on NHTSA.gov. Owners should park outside and away from structures until the electronic fuse is installed; owner letters mail August 13. Kia customer service: 1-800-333-4542, recall code SC374.