Many Americans changing eating habits amid cyclospora outbreak: Poll

Many Americans are altering their eating habits due to the ongoing cyclospora outbreak, with four in 10 reporting they are buying or consuming less produce. This trend is more pronounced among women and older individuals, according to a recent CBS News poll. The outbreak has captured significant public attention, with nearly as many people closely following news about the cyclospora parasite as they are the conflict with Iran.

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Most Americans are following news about the outbreak of cyclospora at least somewhat closely and four in 10 say they are now buying or eating less produce because of it.

Public confidence in the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) capacity to handle the situation is divided. While more respondents express confidence than not, few feel "a lot" of confidence in the agency. Political affiliation appears to influence these perceptions, as Republicans show greater confidence in the FDA compared to Democrats.

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People paying very close attention to news about cyclospora are especially likely to be buying or eating less produce now.

The CBS News/YouGov survey, conducted between July 22-24, 2026, involved 2,193 U.S. adults. The sample was weighted to ensure national representativeness based on gender, age, race, and education. The margin of error for the poll is ±2.7 points.

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Confidence in the FDA's ability to deal with the outbreak is mixed. On balance, more are confident than not in the FDA, but few express "a lot" of confidence in the agency.