Former FDA Official Blasts Trump Administration’s Cyclospora Outbreak Response as a Failure of Leadership

Donald Trump’s former top food safety official has condemned the administration’s handling of the Cyclospora outbreak, calling it a near “catastrophic” failure. Frank Yiannas, who served as deputy commissioner for food policy at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under both Trump and Biden from 2018 to 2023, emphasized systemic mismanagement in addressing the rapidly spreading intestinal illness linked to contaminated produce.

According to Yiannas, the public’s confusion over Cyclosporiasis—an infection caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis known for causing severe diarrhea—has been worsened by inconsistent federal guidance and weak leadership. The outbreak, which has affected over 4,000 people across multiple states, has highlighted challenges in identifying and containing its source, a process Yiannas described as “chaotic.”

Initial FDA attempts to pin the outbreak on lettuce from Taylor Farms—a supplier to major chains like Taco Bell—were later retracted after the company disputed the assertion. Despite publicized backtracking, the FDA maintains its belief in a connection between Taylor Farms and the outbreak, which has now been linked to 7,400 potential cases in nine states. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously declared the outbreak “under control,” even as the FDA expanded its investigation.

“They moved too quickly and made an error,” Yiannas said, urging transparency about the missteps and better prevention strategies. He advocated for an independent review of the federal response, either through congressional oversight or an agency inspector, to address the mishandling of the crisis. The FDA has not yet responded to these calls for accountability.

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