Why foodborne outbreaks in 2026 are making so many Americans sick

Outbreaks linked to contaminated food keep stacking up, from E. coli in blueberries to cyclospora in lettuce. Although the number of outbreaks is consistent with past years, there have been far more illnesses.

Outbreaks of foodborne illness keep stacking up: In just the last month, consumers have been warned about E. coli in blueberries, cyclospora in iceberg lettuce, salmonella in jalapeño peppers and, as of Friday, contaminated alfalfa sprouts.

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