India, Aug. 9 -- An outbreak of cyclospora traced to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico has escalated from a food-safety scare into a broader consumer confidence crisis, hitting supermarkets, restaurants and food distributors even where no direct link to the contaminated produce exists, according to Forbes retail contributor Mark Faithfull.

The outbreak has now reached 15 states, with Michigan alone reporting more than 12,000 cases and two deaths. Nationally, reported cyclospora infections this year have passed 25,000, more than five times the previous US record set in 2019.

Taylor Farms Cyclospora Outbreak: How Badly Has The Outbreak Hit Sales?

The financial fallout has been immediate and widespread. US fresh lettuce u...