Salmonella — backyard poultry (the big one)
This is by far the largest active investigation, and it’s unusual in that it’s not a food product at all — it’s live birds.
CDC and state officials are investigating multistate outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis, Indiana, Infantis, Mbandaka, and Saintpaul infections, with epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory data pointing to contact with backyard poultry. As of June 8, 2026, 513 people infected with the outbreak strains had been reported from 43 states, with illness onsets ranging from January 20 to May 22, 2026. Of 385 people with information available, 134 (35%) were hospitalized. One death has been reported in Washington state, and one in four of those sickened is a child under five.
The trajectory shows how fast this escalated. The initial notice on April 23 covered just 34 people across 13 states, with 13 hospitalized and no deaths. By May 14, that had grown to 184 people — 150 new cases across 18 new states — with 53 hospitalizations and the Washington death. By June 8, another 329 illnesses had been added, along with two new Enteritidis strains and one new strain each of Mbandaka, Indiana, and Infantis. CDC + 2
On the traceback side: of 196 people who reported owning backyard poultry, 165 (84%) had purchased or obtained the birds since January 1, 2026, most commonly from agricultural retail stores. The outbreak strains have been linked to 7 hatcheries, and CDC is working with state partners to notify them and assess links to upstream suppliers — additional hatcheries may be added. Investigators in Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio collected samples from backyard poultry or from the inside of shipping boxes used to move birds from hatcheries to retail stores. One notable epidemiological wrinkle: the largest of the outbreaks has an unusually high number of people reporting contact with ducks rather than chickens.
Antibiotic resistance is a live concern here. From the April data on the Saintpaul strain alone: bacteria from 34 people’s samples predicted resistance to fosfomycin, and 8 of those also predicted resistance to one or more of chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, and tetracycline. Because some 2026 strains show resistance, laboratory sensitivity testing matters for treatment decisions.
CDC expects these outbreaks to remain active through summer and into fall as spring-purchased birds mature — summer is peak season, children are outdoors more, and warmer temperatures increase Salmonella’s environmental persistence. The core advisory is unchanged: children under five shouldn’t handle the birds or anything in the area where they live and roam, and everyone should wash hands for 20 seconds after touching birds, their supplies, or collecting eggs.
Salmonella — moringa leaf powder (reopened)
This one is interesting procedurally, because CDC closed it and then had to reopen it.
CDC, FDA, and state officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Newport infections, with epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory data showing moringa leaf powder is contaminated. The investigation was closed on March 17, 2026 — at which point 97 people across 32 states had been reported, with 26 of 90 (29%) hospitalized and no deaths. Since closure, 22 new illnesses from 4 states were reported, so the investigation was reopened. As of May 27, 2026, the total stands at 119 people from 36 states, with onsets from August 22, 2025 to April 26, 2026, and 32 of 109 hospitalized. No deaths.
FDA’s traceback found a common manufacturer between Live it Up Super Greens supplement powder and Why Not Natural Pure Organic Moringa Green Superfood capsules. WGS confirmed the Salmonella found in the powder was the outbreak strain of Typhimurium; bacteria from 64 people’s samples predicted no antibiotic resistance. On January 20, 2026, Superfoods, Inc. expanded its recall to nationwide distribution of Live it Up Super Greens, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands, plus international distribution to the United Kingdom. Because these products have a long shelf life, CDC notes they may still be sitting in people’s homes.
Salmonella — Mogo brand moringa capsules
A separate, smaller moringa-related investigation. CDC, FDA, and state officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections, with epidemiologic data showing Mogo brand moringa capsules may be contaminated. As of May 26, 2026, 18 people from 14 states, with onsets from February 3 to April 7, 2026; 7 of 13 hospitalized, no deaths. WGS showed the isolates are closely related and predicted no antibiotic resistance. On May 25, Mogo Moringa LLC voluntarily recalled two lots of Moringa Oleifera Capsules, and CDC advises against eating, selling, or serving them.
The law firm of Ron Simon & Associates now represents numerous victims, and is filing a Moringa lawsuit in this outbreak.
E. coli O145:H28 — frozen blueberries (newest)
On July 1, 2026, the Florida Department of Health notified CDC about a cluster of E. coli O145 illnesses. Interviews identified frozen GreenWise-brand organic blueberries sold at Publix as the leading food item of interest. As of July 6, 12 people across 2 states, with onsets from May 11 to June 5, 2026; 4 hospitalized, no deaths. The cases break down as 11 in Florida and one in Georgia.
Florida shared its findings with Publix headquarters, which immediately conducted an internal stop-sale. On July 3, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of San Carlos, Chile recalled the product — 10-oz packages, lot code 60401, Best By February 9, 2028 — which had shipped to Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. FDA and state partners are working to determine the source of contamination, and additional products may be added.
The law firm of Ron Simon & Associates filed the first blueberry lawsuit in this outbreak, in West Palm Beach Florida on behalf of Oscar and Roberta Cash. She was in medical institutions for nearly a month.
Listeria monocytogenes — soft requesón cheese
The most lethal of the active investigations relative to its size, and remarkable for its duration.
Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show requesón cheeses supplied by Clover Hill Dairy are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. As of June 24, 2026, 12 people from 4 states, with samples collected across a span running from March 6, 2023 to June 2, 2026. Of the 12, 10 have been hospitalized and 1 death has been reported from Maryland. A three-year case span is highly unusual and suggests persistent contamination at the facility rather than a single lot.
Listeria was detected in six product samples of requesón and two environmental samples, and WGS matched the cheese isolates to the patient isolates. On June 18, Clover Hill Dairy expanded its recall to all of its cheese products; on June 26, La Ceiba Foods Latin Market Inc. recalled certain requesón. The dairy is located in Mechanicsville, Maryland, and the expanded recall covers requesón, cuajada, and hard cheese varieties. Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC of Bayshore, NY also recalled requesón sold in 1 lb plastic clamshells at New York retail locations from May 15 to May 28. Recalled products were distributed in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.
There’s also a second Listeria thread that hasn’t produced case counts: FSIS issued a public health alert on May 9, 2026, for DAISY BRAND Meat Products HEADCHEESE with a “USE BY” date of MAR 26 2026, produced January 20, 2026, and intended for slicing at retail delis. An unopened sample tested positive for Listeria, and further testing is underway to determine whether it matches an outbreak strain. The number of cases hasn’t been publicly specified. Food Poisoning News
Beyond the four tracked germs
Two more that don’t appear in the CDC table but are active:
Infant botulism — powdered formula. Illnesses were linked to Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula, since recalled. All four infants — two in California, one each in Pennsylvania and Washington — required hospitalization and were treated. Symptoms include constipation, difficulty feeding, a weak or altered cry, and loss of muscle tone. FDA updated its advisory on this outbreak (ref #1383) on July 6.
The law firm of Ron Simon & Associates filed the infant botulism lawsuit in this outbreak, on behalf of the son of Stephanie and Ian Roltsch of Riverside County, Calif
Cyclospora. This is quietly the largest by raw numbers. As of July 13, 2026, CDC has received reports of 1,645 confirmed domestic cyclosporiasis cases and is aware of more than 5,100 cases requiring further analysis. Michigan announced that current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source, though other foods can’t be ruled out. FDA has added two new Cyclospora outbreaks (refs #1384 and #1385) linked to not-yet-identified products and has initiated traceback on both.
Also worth flagging as a leading indicator: FDA has added a new Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak (ref #1387) linked to a not-yet-identified product, with traceback initiated. That’s one of the 14 Salmonella investigations that hasn’t yet reached the notice stage. FDA
Recently closed (context for the numbers)
Three that wrapped up this year, useful for calibration:
- Raw Farm raw cheddar/raw milk, E. coli O157:H7. Declared over April 30, 2026: 9 illnesses in 3 states, onsets September 1, 2025 to February 20, 2026, 3 hospitalized, 1 case of hemolytic uremic syndrome, no deaths. The majority of illnesses were in children under five, and Raw Farm only recalled the cheddar products on April 2 after initially refusing. FDACongress.gov
- Oysters, Salmonella Telekebir. Over as of February 24, 2026: 80 people in 23 states, 34 of 68 (50%) hospitalized, no deaths. Of 43 people interviewed, 26 (60%) reported eating raw oysters — versus 1.6% in the FoodNet Population Survey baseline. CDC
- Prepared pasta meals, Listeria. Over February 12, 2026, and the deadliest of the recent set: 28 people in 19 states, 27 of 28 hospitalized, 7 deaths, traced to FreshRealm chicken fettuccine alfredo sold at Walmart and Kroger. CDC
A methodological note. The CDC’s own index pages render their outbreak tables via JavaScript, so direct fetches return them empty, and the fetcher served me stale cached copies of both the main page and the poultry investigation page. Everything above is assembled from individual investigation pages, CDC newsroom releases, and FDA/FSIS tables, cross-checked against each other. Where sources disagree slightly on totals (e.g., The Hill’s “22 active investigations” vs. CDC’s 27), it’s a difference in counting date and in what gets counted. Given how fast the poultry numbers are moving — 34 → 184 → 513 in about seven weeks — treat every figure here as a floor, and note that CDC itself cautions that true case counts are always much higher than reported, since many people recover without being tested, and recent illnesses take 3 to 4 weeks to be linked to an outbreak.
