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Okay, salad lovers, quick PSA before you build your next bowl: there's a lettuce situation happening, and it's actually kind of a big deal.
A multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis (say that five times fast) has spread to nine states, and the culprit is one of the most basic salad ingredients out there: iceberg lettuce.
So what's going on?
The CDC and FDA have traced it back to iceberg lettuce grown and processed by Taylor Farms de Mexico, which has issued a recall. Cyclospora is a tiny parasite, but it causes a big problem: watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and fatigue that can hang around for weeks. Not the souvenir you want from taco night.
Michigan alone has logged more than 3,000 cases, with confirmed cases across nine states total; serious enough that chains like Taco Bell have already pulled lettuce off their menus.
Why you should actually care
This isn't just a restaurant thing, iceberg is everywhere in home kitchens too. And since symptoms can take a week or more to show up, you could eat contaminated lettuce and feel fine; until you suddenly really don't. USA Today and OPB both report people are already buying less lettuce and steering clear of restaurants without a
confirmed clean supply. That's not paranoid, that's just reading the room while the FDA's investigation is still active.
Okay but what do I put in my salad now?
Salad season isn't canceled, we recommend just reaching for these instead:
- Romaine, kale, butter lettuce, or little gems
- Baby spinach or arugula
- Shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix (honestly tastes better than iceberg)
- Or skip lettuce entirely and go grain-based. A bulgur salad is hearty, satisfying, and nowhere near this recall
Whatever green (or grain) you land on, give it a good rinse and check the FDA/CDC links for current recalled lots before you shop.
The bottom line: swap in a different green (or a quinoa salad) tonight, keep an eye on CDC updates, and you really won't miss iceberg one bit.
More Iceburg Free Salad Options:
I don’t understand why people don’t at least rinse ALL veggies. Same with anything you wear. ALWAYS WASH before wearing. We DO NOT KNOW where the stuff has all been.
I personally would stay away from the pre shredded cabbage mixes and just buy a whole head of cabbage. I’ve never been a fan of the salad mixes they don’t taste as fresh to me. The little gem romaine lettuce are terrific and great for smaller households and don’t forget Boston Bibb lettuce grown hydroponics. Taylor Farms has a terrible track record one outbreak in 2024 killed a child and the previous outbreak in Salinas CA was similar in nature to this current one. It’s frustrating we consumers can’t easily identify where our produce is coming from.
I had a bok choy salad at a friend’s BBQ. I’d love a good classic version of this.My family is also gluten-free. Are bok choy always with Ramen?
So many of these are naturally gluten-free, thanks for that!!
A