Don't Eat Poop! A Food Safety Podcast

Largest Cyclospora Outbreak in US History “Over”: What the CDC Isn't Saying | Episode 185

September 22, 2026·45 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

🍽️ Francine and Matt are building a global, fun, and inclusive Food Safety Family! From the C-suite to the kitchen, they’re making safe food the norm everywhere.👉 Follow Francine and Matt on LinkedIn for more food safety insights and updates.The largest Cyclospora outbreak in U.S. history is over, according to an anonymous federal official who told a reporter before anyone told the public. The CDC's own outbreak page still says "open." In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop, Matt and Francine dig into the numbers nobody's updating and ask a question they've never asked in 185 episodes: is this incompetence, or something worse?This episode breaks down the outbreak data agencies stopped counting, the consumer trust numbers still falling, and the case for and against a full-blown conspiracy.In this episode:💩 00:00:00 Cyclospora Outbreak Declared "Over" 💩 00:08:21 The Outbreak Numbers Nobody's Updating💩 00:11:19 Consumer Confidence In Free Fall💩 00:13:03 Congress Sends 13 Letters, Gets Zero Cyclospora Outbreak Answers💩 00:16:05 Incompetence or Food Safety Conspiracy💩 00:20:54 Is The Whole Food System Broken?💩 00:23:08 Could Someone Be Weaponizing A Broken System?💩 00:36:45 How Matt Got A Broken Industry To Adopt ComplianceDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeCheck out Bill Marler’s article discussed in this episode:Unnamed Federal Officials Told the Washington Post They Are About to Declare the Largest Cyclospora Outbreak in U.S. History Over. The National Count Is Still Climbing, 8,137 Confirmed Illnesses Have No Named Source, and Congress Is Still Waiting for an Answer.Noteworthy quotes from this episode"If you don't count [the victims], they don't matter. They don't exist." – Francine L Shaw"This is either absolute pure incompetence, or it's a conspiracy, and I could believe in both, or both simultaneously." – Matt RegusciWe hope you enjoy this episode!Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!Share your thoughts and feedback on the show, and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.We'd love to hear from you!📲 Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!📕 Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen?🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected._______Produced by Ideablossoms_______

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