Cyclospora outbreaks cost U.S. bagged salad retailers $374 million

A study published in Risk Analysis reveals that Cyclospora outbreaks cost U.S. bagged salad retailers an estimated $374 million in lost sales between 2018 and 2022. Researchers from The Ohio State University and the University of Florida analyzed six major multistate outbreaks, four of which were linked to salad products, accounting for approximately 2,157 illnesses.

Weekly bagged salad purchases declined by an average of 3.89% during outbreak and recall cycles. Notably, the financial impact extended beyond states with reported illnesses; sales also dropped in states that shared media markets with affected areas. This suggests that public awareness and media coverage drive consumer hesitation even in regions where no local cases were reported.

The research found that retailers generally maintained inventory and replaced recalled merchandise, meaning product availability was not the primary cause of the decline. Instead, consumer behavior shifted in response to heightened public attention, with Google search volume for “Cyclospora” aligning closely with the steepest drops in purchases.