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olychick2

Lettuce and salad greens avoidance?

19 days ago

I searched but didn't see any posts about this? I found this informative...I'm only buying locally grown produce from our Farmer's Market. What are you doing?



Comments (182)

  • 12 days ago

    Agreed Sherry. I'm hoping they have everything clearly labeled. We shall see....

    Olychick thanked Ally De
  • 12 days ago

    My friend at Traders said yesterday, as I was buying spinach, that they pulled products from Taylor Farms and haven't heard otherwise. I think Taylor supplies most of the grocery stores, at least in my area.

    Olychick thanked lily316
  • 12 days ago

    Ally De -- I hope you continue to do better. I think if you follow the recommended washing procedures with whole produce, you may reduce risk.


    I was at Costco this morning, after our big road trip, and noticed the stocks of lettuce were overflowing. I really think it would help if the supplier just invested in some stickers to note the origin or if Costco noted the origin (which is common in many parts of Europe). I had a nice Caesar Salad for lunch.

    Olychick thanked Gooster
  • 12 days ago

    Alley De — thinking of you and hoping you continue to improve.


    Jaques Pepin puts lettuce in soups, like any green. I sometimes do this as well (add to ramen mix).

    Olychick thanked petalique
  • 12 days ago



    Olychick thanked petalique
  • 12 days ago

    I guess we know in which states people don't eat fresh vegetables!

  • 11 days ago

    Petalique - sorry that I'm being dense. Is the the orange or the gray that show where the cyclosporiasis outbreak is?


    Olychick thanked Suzieque
  • 11 days ago

    Orange is the cyclosporiasis. There are four states on the mainland with no reported cases.

    Olychick thanked Sherry8aNorthAL
  • 11 days ago
    last modified: 11 days ago

    Suzieque - it is definitely orange. My new BFF cyclospora* has been reported in all but ~4 states now.


    * Worst house guest ever. Causes wild disarray, no respect for personal space, and just will not leave no matter how many ways you try to evict them. 0/10, do not recommend.


    😄

    Olychick thanked Ally De
  • 11 days ago

    I just bought produce at Publix, including head lettuce. Everything was labeled with country of origin, which was the United States.

    Olychick thanked Sherry8aNorthAL
  • 9 days ago
    last modified: 9 days ago

    It's apparently getting worse.

    Just read this from USA Today:

    "...Cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection known for causing explosive diarrhea, have now reached 47 states as the illness reached unprecedented numbers.

    There have been 10,468 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclospora infections since May 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its weekly update Aug. 4. The new numbers represent an increase of more than 3,700 since the CDC's last report July 28.

    Cases have now been recorded in 47 states, up from 45 last week. At least 12,255 additional cases have not yet been confirmed by laboratories, the CDC said.

    There have been 517 hospitalizations and two deaths, according to the agency...."

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2026/08/04/cyclospora-outbreak-cases-update-august-2026/91173578007/

    Olychick thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
  • 9 days ago

    Ugh. Stay vigilant.

    Olychick thanked Feathers11
  • 9 days ago

    FWIW, I found a smallish provider of lettuce, who put out a very reassuring statement on their website. They explained their hydroponic growing and various sanitation and employment practices. They said they have never tested positive for any ick, and that if they ever did they would publicize it themselves.


    I bought their lettuce. It tasted fabulous. It was a bit more than I usually pay, but assuming all is true, it is worth it to me. Fingers crossed.


    We live in interesting times.

    Olychick thanked Ally De
  • 9 days ago
    last modified: 9 days ago

    Sadly, this is not one of those things where illness confers immunity. You can get reinfected (Different from relapse where the initial infection flares up).

    Edited to add: Ally De we posted at the same time, my post was not directed at you. Although I of course want you to to stay healthy.

    Olychick thanked lucillle
  • 9 days ago

    No worries Lucille. You are entirely correct and it's important to keep in mind. Heck, I'm not fully recovered so I suspect a recurrence would be even worse for me, you know?!


    I was SO HUNGRY for a salad. I stood there in the produce aisle googling various companies, and liked what I found on this one enough to take a chance. I believed what they said on their website. I paid more for a product that said they are safe. Time will tell if that makes me a fool.

    Olychick thanked Ally De
  • 9 days ago

    Given the 340,000.000+ people in the USA, statistically, public food safety is pretty darned good. This has been awful for Ally and the rest who suffer from this nastiness, but in general, the food is pretty safe...


    Ally, your choice sounds excellent, and I know the salad craving...

    Olychick thanked plllog
  • 9 days ago

    Pllog, I agree with you completely that from a numbers perspective, the risk is still pretty small relative to our overall population. What frustrates me to no end is the lack of information/clarity on exactly who/what products are behind the still growing numbers of infections.


    First it was a positive test, then apparently someone visited with someone else and may or may not have paid a "donation" - and then suddenly the positive test was false alarm. That's reassuring!


    Meanwhile no one has issued any information on lot numbers, or exact products involved, or dates of production, or anything, you know, USEFUL to know if the risk has been identified/contained - or if the carp that is STILL BEING SOLD in stores from the company we all THINK is behind this is now safe. Does anyone even care? What about the lettuce being sold to Sysco and restaurant chains - is that now safe? Who knows, no one says anything anymore. We're stuck googling things in produce aisles and trying to figure it out on our own.


    The band of misfits running this clown car of an administration does not inspire confidence. In me anyway, I guess other people strongly disagree. And so it goes.

    Olychick thanked Ally De
  • 9 days ago

    Alley, I agree with you completely! It not only a clown show, it is a farce. I am lucky that I have a grocery that lists where their produce is from, Publix, US, plum tomatoes, Canada.

    I will eat nothing at a restaurant that is produce.

    Olychick thanked Sherry8aNorthAL
  • 9 days ago

    I agree about the clown car and it's frustrating to see our safeguards all get destroyed for no good reason. No one is keeping any records anymore, no research, no information on the current incidents. And the saddest part is that the head clown doesn't care about all of us in the least. It's every person for themselves.

    Olychick thanked murraysmom Zone 6a OH
  • 9 days ago

    I also agree about the clown car, but they’re on BOTH sides of the aisle. The clown we have running CA has shown a total lack of leadership and confidence. And he wants to be next in the WH? Good grief, he can’t handle CA! Then there’s the charming mayor of LA who’s a complete MESS.😵‍💫 Again, Left or Right…the behavior’s concerning in BOTH directions.


    Olychick thanked chloebud
  • 9 days ago

    The map is not accurate. It's disingenuous to count cases as those in a state that were aquired out the country and out of a state .

    Since May 1, when cyclospora cases began to rise nationwide, California has reported 201 cases. Of these cases, the vast majority — 172 — were acquired while the individual was abroad, which is traditionally how most U.S. residents get sick.

    Of the 43 domestically acquired cases, 15 involved people who left the state but stayed within the U.S. Just two individual cases are believed to be linked to the outbreak that’s connected to tainted lettuce. They were sickened after traveling outside California and eating items at a Taco Bell.


    Cases In California

    Olychick thanked wildchild2x2
  • 8 days ago
    last modified: 8 days ago

    Just wanted to push back a little on the 'this is not a significant number of cases to be concerned about' argument - IMO, better to have the concern at the start, when numbers are relatively low, rather than wait for full blown emergency mode, which does seem to be the American way, like it or not.

    Olychick thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
  • 8 days ago
    last modified: 8 days ago

    Often we have a panic over two cases of food borne infection. I'm not mad about that. Better safe. Over 10!000 is a scary amount and an example why scientists decry giant agriculture processing hubs. But compared to human history, our food in general is very safe. ;)

    Olychick thanked plllog
  • 8 days ago

    And the thing is, that number of confirmed cases is only a part of the picture, since reporting and tracking are not complete at this point, since so many agencies have been diminished.

    Olychick thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
  • 8 days ago
    last modified: 8 days ago

    I agree with both Carol and plllog. 😆


    Plllog, the sad part for me is how far it feels like we have fallen. We have always had food borne outbreaks. But the lack of concrete information this time around is appalling. Again, IMO. Historically the government was on it, issues were addressed and clear information was forthcoming. This time...it is so different. They're pushing artifically low numbers, and you have to dig for real case counts. See above. 🙁

    Olychick thanked Ally De
  • 8 days ago

    I think the graphic is unhelpful as it does not eliminate cases from abroad and distinguish where the levels are elevated from historical. In California, the number of cases YTD is half that of last year. However it is clearly elevated in some places and we need a better, conclusive and influence-free identification of the source.

    Olychick thanked Gooster
  • 8 days ago

    What about all the people who did not seek medical assistance? Do they not count? There is no way to get reliable numbers in this instance.

    Olychick thanked murraysmom Zone 6a OH
  • 8 days ago

    I think that's another indicator of what's so messed up with health care systems in the country. Many people tough it out when it comes to many illnesses because they cannot afford or cannot access proper medical care.

    Olychick thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
  • 8 days ago

    " What about all the people who did not seek medical assistance? Do they not count? There is no way to get reliable numbers in this instance "

    I would say they're reliable but an undercount - the actual numbers are likely higher than is indicated (because some people won't seek help), not lower (because no one is making up lab confirmations).

  • 7 days ago
    last modified: 7 days ago

    Another good reason, according to health experts, is that people with healthy immune systems recover on their own.

    And now there's vibrio - a.k.a. flesh-eating bacteria. Several people have died from it in LA, I understand.

    Looks like the number is 5

    "...Louisiana has confirmed nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections this year, the state's health department said last week in a news release. All were hospitalized, and five died. During the same period over the previous decade, Louisiana reported an average of seven cases and one death...."

    https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/health-officials-urge-caution-for-gulf-coast-beachgoers-during-surge-of-deadly-bacterial-infections

    Olychick thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
  • 6 days ago

    " Another good reason, according to health experts, is that people with healthy immune systems recover on their own. "

    Source?

    Is for this particular problem, or all problems, or? How is one to know?

    This sounds like the nonsense that one group of people was spreading around during the pandemic.

  • 6 days ago

    It sounds like common sense to me.

  • 6 days ago

    Isn't it just logic? There's an undercount because known likely cases aren't being tested because the people are avoiding health care. They must be healthy enough to recover on their own because they're not dying... What am I missing?

    Olychick thanked plllog
  • 6 days ago
    last modified: 6 days ago

    " Another good reason, according to health experts, is that people with healthy immune systems recover on their own. "

    Source?

    Is for this particular problem, or all problems, or? How is one to know?

    This sounds like the nonsense that one group of people was spreading around during the pandemic.



    Here, from the CDC:

    https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/hcp/clinical-care/index.html

    Most healthy people will eventually recover from cyclosporiasis without treatment although their illness may be prolonged.


    Olychick thanked lucillle
  • 6 days ago

    " It sounds like common sense to me. "

    Common sense to me is to seek medical help if one experiences something with characteristics or duration that differ from something previously experienced.

    If relying on the immune system is the right alternative, why are there antibiotics and other drugs that treat various kinds of infections?

    "Let's see if it improves in a few days" is a doctor's judgement to make for a patient standing in front of them, for a medical condition that's atypical for that particular person. Docs deal with facts and I suspect order lab testing in these situations to see if that can point to the problem's cause.

    Olychick thanked Elmer J Fudd
  • 6 days ago

    And nobody recovered from Covid without seeking medical help either? Now that's nonsense!

    Olychick thanked LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
  • 6 days ago

    Lucille, you "forgot" to include the sentence that follows the quote you mentioned above. It is:


    " Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is the treatment of choice for cyclosporiasis."

  • 6 days ago

    " And nobody recovered from Covid without seeking medical help either? "

    Lonejack, plenty recovered because they DID.

    The president you love and his accolytes gave out a lot of baloney and misinformation at the time but when he got ill, he received very aggressive drug treatments which helped limit his illness and speed his recovery. Nary a word was admitted in public because it differed from the baseless advice he was giving others.

    Olychick thanked Elmer J Fudd
  • 6 days ago

    One post you say that people recovering on their own is nonsense and the next you say that 'plenty recovered because they DID' whatever that means. Which is it?

    Olychick thanked LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
  • 6 days ago

    Lucille, you "forgot" to include the sentence that follows the quote you mentioned above. It is:

    " Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is the treatment of choice for cyclosporiasis."


    Irrelevant and a red herring to the claim in question, which is that most healthy people will eventually recover from cyclosporiasis without treatment , you were trying for a smackdown on Carol and got caught with your pants down. Not a pretty sight.

    Olychick thanked lucillle
  • 6 days ago

    And apparently what's common sense to me i.e. people with a good immune system can recover more easily on their own, is not common sense to Elmer. He has a different view but it's not the only one possible. One does not need to consult a doctor, either in person or televisit, to take care and recover on one's own.

    Olychick thanked murraysmom Zone 6a OH
  • 6 days ago

    Lonejack, you misread my comments. That's fine with me.

  • 6 days ago

    lucille, an important nuance most people learn is the importance of being able to disagree without being disagreeable.


    Coming from you, that statement is ...laughable.

    Olychick thanked lucillle
  • 6 days ago
    last modified: 6 days ago

    Unconscious irony, perhaps? Bias appears to be a given.

    And noting qualifiers in a statement is very useful for reading comprehension, I believe...?

    Olychick thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
  • 6 days ago

    " Isn't it just logic? There's an undercount because known likely cases aren't being tested because the people are avoiding health care. They must be healthy enough to recover on their own because they're not dying... "

    It is logical, because just about everything infectious occurs in a spectrum of severity, so some people will recover without medical intervention. In fact, some will recover without medical care and without even knowing they were infected (there is a difference between infection and disease). Dehydration is a huge risk for anyone with severe diarrhea (from any source), so those unable to rehydrate orally can become significantly dehydrated and put many other organs at risk.

  • 6 days ago

    " Coming from you, ..... "

    Now you're getting bizarre.

    People don't hear what they don't want to hear.

  • 6 days ago

    I also have read that people infected with cyclospora are likely to fecover on their own within a few weeks. (Assuming a healthy immune system and no significnt comorbidity.)

    Olychick thanked petalique
  • 6 days ago
    last modified: 6 days ago

    No Elmer, I read your comments just fine, You were talking in circles and making yourself dizzy(dizzier?).

    Olychick thanked LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
  • 6 days ago

    I'll feed whoever I want to feed thank you.

    Olychick thanked LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
  • 6 days ago
    last modified: 6 days ago

    “I'll feed whoever I want to feed thank you.”

    Avoid Taylor Farm Foods, though.

    Olychick thanked roxsolid