Cyclospora Update Post:

I'm doing a mini blog (more of a rant but roll with it) because I am sick of the news saying dumb shit like, we have no idea how lettuce got contaminated with Cyclospora.

Then I see a news organization share this map on social media. So I Googled flooding in Michigan and look what came up: "Severe storms and historic flooding occurred in two waves: one in mid-April, and another intense flash flood event in northern Michigan on June 29. These were driven by extreme rainfall & rapid snowmelt." The I Googled: How long does it take lettuce to mature? Answer: Lettuce typically takes 3 to 4 weeks to grow into "baby" leaves and 45 to 55 days to reach full maturity, depending on the variety. Loose-leaf and butterhead varieties grow the fastest, while dense heading types like Romaine or Crisphead can take up to 75 to 100 days So lets do some basic math (Sorry for those who don't math): If we take the mid-April date of these storms, so let's say Monday April 13th and add 55 days to that date, that means this lettuce matured on Monday June 8th (I know 56 days but work with me here). Then they harvest it, bag it up and ship it to restaurants and grocery stores. There is 0 testing for these parasites because of the Trump Administrations' DOGE cuts (not being political just stating facts) & unqualified RFK Jr not knowing what he's doing by leading Health & Human Services (once again, may be a bit political this time but still stating facts). And guess what? Two weeks later, people are reporting explosive diarrhea and they find out it's from Cyclospora. Now I'm not a scientist. But come on, people. This shit is so obvious. And the news is like, we know that fecal contamination in the water used to spray the crops is how Cyclospora usually happens but this time we can't figure out how the lettuce got contaminated. 

So as I stated in my last blog, due to DOGE cuts in early 2025, testing for certain things like bacteria & parasites in our foods was on their chopping block. Fast forward to July 2026 and now commercialized Lettuce is also a problem because that bagged lettuce we all like, poses a higher food safety risk than whole heads because leaves from multiple farms are combined and chopped, meaning a single contaminated batch can taint an entire production line. Additionally, the chopped leaves release juices inside the damp, enclosed packaging (we've all seen it. The lettuce wilts and wet inside the bag), which actually helps bacteria like E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella to multiply and become more virulent. And it helps parasites like Cyclospora thrive.

As of right now, consumers are actually facing two major health alerts regarding lettuce: the nationwide Cyclospora parasite outbreak and a separate FSIS (Federal Safety & Inspection Service) recall for ready-to-eat-salads contaminated with Listeria. Because they keep saying "the exact source is unconfirmed," public health officials advise avoiding suspect bagged salads, and even large chains like Taco Bell have temporarily removed lettuce from some menus due to people getting sick. The Cyclospora parasite causes intestinal distress. Nausea, diarrhea and vomiting are some of the most common symptoms. 

Then I'm also seeing people say, it's because farmers and their staff are pooping in the fields. I mean seriously? That would have to be pooping on an overcrowded cow pasture level to cause this kind of outbreak. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen. But outbreaks like this tend to happen during larger events like the flooding event I spoke of above or sewage backing up into the water system. My understanding, from what I've read, is water treatment systems that rely on sedimentation and filtration (these systems are used in organic vegetable fields) are  more effective to fight these types of outbreaks but systems relying on chemical treatment (non organic fields) are not. Cyclospora parasites are very difficult to wash off once they attach to veggies like lettuce and insecticides and herbicides don’t work against this bacteria. 

So the best thing we can do when an outbreak like this happens is take these steps:

1. If you really need to eat lettuce, try to buy organic (less risk but still be cautious). Honestly, I'd say away from all of it now unless its a local grower.

2. DO NOT BUY ANY BAGGED LETTUCE! I can't be any clearer

3. If you purchase head lettuce, take off the outer leaves 

4. Wash those veggies with an organic veggie wash

5. And I'd personally also stay away from berries, especially strawberries. Those lack of an exterior peel on berries, make them highly susceptible to bacteria and parasites. 

As I'm sitting here eating my carcinogenic deli meat, that is now actually considered healthier for me instead of the salad I would have been eating today, all I can think about is how much this country has declined when it comes to our food.

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