I've Written About a Lot of Things, But This Is a First
If you've had a little rumbly in your tumbly lately, it might be worth checking in with your doctor. It could be a parasite that's, well, feasting on you. Since May 1, more than 7,000 cases and 141 hospitalizations have been reported nationwide, and the CDC is working to track down the source of the outbreak.
Indiana, Kentucky, and Surrounding States Are Seeing More Cyclospora Cases
Indiana, Kentucky, and surrounding states such as Illinois, Tennessee, and Ohio are experiencing a surge in Cyclospora infections, according to WLKY.
It was announced late Thursday that the FDA is advising consumers to avoid eating shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
“FDA is working with the supplier of iceberg lettuce to determine if potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce remains on the market,” including in other states, the CDC said. “Taco Bell has committed to stop using any lettuce from the supplier identified by FDA’s traceback investigation.”
CNN reports that a source familiar with the investigation said shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and served at some Taco Bell restaurants has been linked to a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis. However, neither the FDA nor CDC has confirmed this.
At least 400 cases have been reported across Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky, with many of them concentrated near the affected Taco Bell locations. Officials were quick to point out, however, that the contaminated produce may have been distributed to other restaurants and retailers as well.
The Michigan Department of Health said it "cannot say with certainty that every illness is linked to the same source of exposure," but added that the sharp increase in cases "strongly suggests that the vast majority of these illnesses are associated with the same outbreak." They also noted that when they interviewed 1,000 infected people, they identified salad or greens as a potential carrier for the parasite.
Taco Bell Responds
“Based on ongoing conversations with public health officials, and out of an abundance of caution, Taco Bell has taken immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states,” the company said in a statement Thursday. “The affected ingredient from our supplier is being indefinitely removed from our supply chain nationwide and will be replaced within 24 hours in select states.”
"While no official advisory has been issued, we believe public health is a shared responsibility among restaurants, their suppliers, and authorities, and we are proud to have consistently acted quickly and proactively to protect our guests. Taco Bell has taken precautionary action, and we encourage all relevant restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators to do the same."
What to Do If You Bought Taco Bell with Lettuce?
The FDA said if you purchased or received food items with shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell at one of these locations, carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched.
What is Cyclosporiasis?
According to the CDC, Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. It spreads when you eat or drink food or water contaminated with infected feces. Yeah, GROSS.
The most common symptom is frequent, explosive, watery diarrhea that can last for weeks if left untreated. And the worst part is just when you think you are getting better, it can come back in waves. No, thank you!
I'm Sick, Do I Have a Cyclospora Infection?
You probably figured you'll feel sick right after you eat a contaminated food, but the parasite has an incubation period. Symptoms usually start within a week and can include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, bloating, gas, and weight loss. Some people don't have symptoms at all, while others can be sick for weeks.
How Do You Kill the Cyclospora Parasite?
Okay, now that I've fully grossed you out, I have more bad news.
Cyclospora parasites are incredibly hard to kill. Washing your produce only removes some of the parasites. Even soaking fruits and vegetables in vinegar or commercial produce cleaners doesn't kill or remove them. I mean, they are even immune to bleach. BLEACH! They have a sticky outer layer that protects them. This shell clings tightly to the tiny grooves on bumpy foods like raspberries, lettuce, and basil.
How to Protect Yourself From Cyclospora
The only way to kill the parasite is to cook your food to an internal temperature of 158 degrees or higher.
I know. What a bummer, especially since it's peak 'fresh produce' season. If you're willing to take the risk, experts recommend washing all your produce with clean water, using a vegetable cleaning agent, and scrubbing firm produce with a brush. It's also important to wash your hands with soap and water to help minimize contamination. But remember, I'll say it for the people in the back who haven't heard me yet. You can still get sick, as it doesn't remove all the parasites.
What to Do If You Get Sick
If you find yourself with, ahem... "explosive diarrhea," your best bet is to get in to see your doctor or schedule an e-visit. They can prescribe an antibiotic such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole to kill these suckers internally, along with an over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication. Otherwise, this infection can last for days or even weeks.
Young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and anyone who becomes dehydrated from prolonged diarrhea are most at risk and should schedule an appointment asap.
I'm Personally Buying Local Produce This Year
Since the CDC hasn't confirmed that the infections are coming from mass-produced fresh produce, I can't definitively say buying local will help you avoid getting sick. But I can tell you this: I'm only buying local produce this year.
I mean, it's always a good idea to support local farms anyway.
Read More: Your 2026 Guide to Farmers' Markets & Produce Stands in the Tri-State
Source: WLKY
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Gallery Credit: Ashley Sollars