Salad greens scrutinized as cyclosporiasis outbreak spreads

As state and federal officials work to identify the source of the recent outbreak of the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis, Michigan health officials have identified lettuces or salad greens as one potential culprit.

“Early information has shown lettuce as a common product that regularly comes up during the investigation,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, in a news release. “We will continue to provide updates as we learn more.”

Officials cautioned they haven’t ruled out other food items as the source. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 1,645 cases in 34 states, but that is a significant undercount based on the numbers being reported by state health officials.

Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite cyclospora. Symptoms include watery or “explosive” diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. It’s often contracted by eating or drinking something contaminated with the parasite, which lives in feces.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/07/14/repub/salad-greens-scrutinized-as-cyclosporiasis-outbreak-spreads/