Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has stated he will hold Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. accountable for a significant outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that causes severe diarrhea, earlier this year. The outbreak, which hit Michigan particularly hard, was linked to shredded lettuce imported from Mexico.
"This is about understanding what happened, holding people accountable for what they did and then solving the problem moving forward," El-Sayed told CNN on Thursday. He criticized Kennedy Jr.'s potential leadership at the Health and Human Services Department, suggesting that appointing an "anti-science" figure could lead to issues like the contaminated lettuce outbreak.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) figures, over 12,000 people across 21 states were sickened by cyclospora, marking the largest outbreak of the parasite recorded in the U.S. Michigan reported the highest number of cases, with state health authorities counting over 15,000 cases and two deaths, both in individuals with underlying conditions.
El-Sayed attributed the outbreak partly to staffing cuts at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC, arguing that these reductions hampered the agencies' ability to respond effectively. "We have to rebuild the part of the FDA that makes sure that people are eating lettuce where other people have not s***," he said, emphasizing the need for improved food safety oversight.
The first cases of the outbreak were recorded in June. By July, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had stated the situation was "under control," dismissing claims that staffing cuts had impaired the response as "invalid." He asserted that while cuts were made to the FoodNet program, they were for redundant surveillance and did not affect the surveillance program itself.
The CDC officially declared the outbreak over on September 11. The agency noted that the actual number of infections was likely higher than reported, as many individuals may have recovered at home without seeking medical attention.
Cyclospora, typically spread through contaminated food or water, causes symptoms such as explosive diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Unlike common food poisoning, symptoms can persist for weeks or recur. The illness can lead to severe dehydration, which may be fatal in serious cases. Most U.S. cases are linked to international travel or imported produce, often contaminated by irrigation water mixed with human sewage. The outbreak was traced to Taylor Farms, a facility in Mexico that supplied shredded lettuce to restaurants like Taco Bell.
El-Sayed indicated that he would not support Kennedy Jr.'s nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary unless proven otherwise, setting a "very high bar" for his approval. "So my position is I'm gonna assume I'm not going to support you until proven otherwise," he stated.