Every year, cyclosporiasis cases increase during the summer months. However, if you’ve been paying attention to the news, you may notice there seems to be a lot more noise about this stomach-turning parasite.
While it is true that 2026 has a higher number of cases than in past years, you shouldn’t panic. With some education and simple protective measures, you can lower your chances of being exposed to this parasite, even while eating the foods you love.
What Is Cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is the illness associated with the parasite Cyclospora cayetenensis. This is a form of food poisoning, which can cause stomach symptoms such as vomiting and severe diarrhea. There are some complications that can result from cyclosporiasis, namely dehydration due to fluid loss.
While these parasites resolve for most people on their own, antibiotics can help to reduce the length and severity of symptoms. That being said, the lifecycle of the parasite means you could experience symptoms for up to a month or even longer without treatment.
Is the Cyclospora Parasite in Florida?
Yes, there are now 60 and counting cases in Florida of cyclosporiasis. And because diagnosis requires testing, this number could be even higher than reported. There have been cases reported in Alachua and surrounding counties, though these numbers are lower than in other counties, such as Miami-Dade or Lee. This is a nationwide outbreak, so everyone should be cautious regardless of reported cases in their area.
Is It Safe to Eat Fresh Produce and Herbs?
The current 2026 outbreak of cyclosporiasis has been tied to fresh produce and herbs. So many people are left wondering if these foods are safe to eat right now.
The answer is both yes and no. Certain fresh products carry more risk than others, but health professionals aren’t advising people to avoid these foods altogether. Rather, the safest way to eat fresh produce is to take some precautions and avoid higher-risk foods.
The Most At-Risk Foods
So what foods are most at-risk? Because of how the parasite attaches to the produce, the highest risk foods include any produce with soft exteriors and surface areas that are hard to clean. For example, lettuce and berries are both considered to be high-risk carriers of the parasite because they have many crevices that are difficult to clean thoroughly and have a very soft “skin,” if any.
In fact, lettuce and salad kits are some of the most likely culprits of our current outbreak.
This does extend to other leafy foods like fresh herbs or spinach. So for the time being, you might want to use their dried counterparts or use the fresh herbs from your own garden.
Other at-risk foods include peppers, peas, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower, and cucumbers.
On the other hand, fresh produce items like oranges, bananas, melons, avocados, and pineapples are incredibly low risk. This is because their hard exterior makes it hard for the parasite to actually burrow into the part of the fruit you’ll end up eating. So if you’re craving some fresh fruits and vegetables, these are the best low-risk options.
How to Protect Yourself & Your Family
Now, there are steps you can take to protect your family further. It’s hard to swear off all vegetables, but how do you balance that with the fact that these are the highest risk foods? Well, one of the best ways to prevent cyclospora is to cook your fresh produce. The parasite doesn’t do well in heat and cannot survive when exposed to intense heat. Cooking your vegetables or baking your berries into desserts until the internal temperature reaches 158 degrees is considered the best way to prevent this parasite.
If you are going to take the risk and eat raw produce, washing it thoroughly with a brush and running water can help reduce the risk, but it is not as effective as cooking it.
Ward’s Supermarket Cares About Your Safety
At Ward’s Supermarket, we are aware of reports regarding cyclospora illnesses being investigated by public health officials. The health and safety of our customers is our highest priority.
We are closely monitoring information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and our suppliers regarding any products that may be affected. If any products sold in our store are identified as part of a recall or public health advisory, we will remove them from sale immediately and notify our customers as appropriate.
Our store continues to follow strict food safety and sanitation practices for handling fresh produce and other food items. Customers are still encouraged to thoroughly wash fresh fruits and vegetables before consumption and to follow guidance provided by public health authorities.
If you have questions about a specific product purchased from our store, please speak with our customer service team for assistance.
Thank you for your trust and cooperation as we continue to prioritize food safety for our community.
