Your healthy daily salad might make you violently sick

Your healthy daily salad might make you violently sick

Michigan cases jumped to 2,640 while New York City reports 374 sick people as officials hunt for a parasite on lettuce.

Imagine eating a fresh, healthy meal only to end up in the hospital with agonizing stomach pain. A tiny parasite hidden in everyday salads is turning lunch into a nightmare for thousands of people.

What Happened

A massive outbreak of cyclospora is spreading across the country. Michigan is the hardest hit, with cases jumping 69 percent to 2,640. New York City has also found 374 cases this summer.

Health officials suspect lettuce is to blame. But they do not know the exact brand, grower, or store yet.

The parasite causes terrible cramping, nausea, vomiting, and explosive diarrhea. For some people, the pain is bad enough to require a hospital stay.

Fact Box

• 2,640 cases reported in Michigan.
• 374 cases reported in New York City between May 1 and July 10.
• 69 percent rise in Michigan cases in just a few days.
• 1 tiny parasite called cyclospora causing the outbreak.
• 0 specific lettuce brands identified so far.

Why It Matters

This outbreak makes a simple trip to the grocery store feel risky. Many people eat salads to stay healthy, but now those same greens could make them very sick.

The risk is much higher for people with weak immune systems. For them, the severe symptoms can last longer and cause lasting trauma.

What Happens Next

Health officials are working to track down the exact source of the contaminated lettuce. Once they find it, they will pull it from store shelves to stop the spread.

In the meantime, experts say you should wash whole produce very carefully. If you are at high risk, you may want to skip raw salads at restaurants for now.

What We Still Don't Know

1. Which specific lettuce farms or brands are carrying the parasite?
2. How did the parasite get onto the crops in the first place?
3. Are other fruits or vegetables also contaminated?