US Salad Suppliers Wage War Against Feces With Rinse and Regret
KEY POINTS
- •Since May 1, cyclosporiasis has caused 843 confirmed US cases and 86 hospitalizations across 31 states as of July 9.
- •Infected produce is linked to contamination with human feces during growing and processing, complicating food safety.
- •Health experts advise cooking veggies or avoiding high-risk foods like raspberries, basil, and lettuce to prevent infection.
As of July 9, CDC has confirmed 843 US cases of cyclosporiasis—a parasite party of explosive diarrhea—across 31 states since May 1, plus 86 hospitalizations and 1,500 cases under feverish investigation. This bug loves riffing on your gut and is typically hitchhiking in human feces on raspberries, cilantro, and lettuce—basically every salad herb except regrets. Taco Bell reportedly yanked some menu items offline; McDonald's and friends stayed mum like truly infected secrets. The parasite laughs at washing efforts because cyclospora clings like that one clingy Tinder match. Feel better? Nope, symptoms can start a whole week post-exposure with watery diarrhea and misery hotter than a summer internship in Florida. Tip: Cooking veggies kills cyclospora at 158°F, so say bye to raw salad dreams, America.
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(1 of 3)Congrats, America! Your summer salad’s new secret ingredient is human feces tagged with microscopic mystery parasites thriving on your attempts to stay healthy.
Nothing says farm-to-table like a parasite embedded in your cilantro, ready to host a week's worth of explosive bowel symphonies.
CDC’s new fashion trend? Disguising fecal parasites as seasonal salad ingredients. Bon appétit, say goodbye to your innocent gut.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 7/13/2026 | Author: Kim Schewitz,Kashmira Gander
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