Sick Bay

[mike]

Terrible timing, farmers’ markets in their peak season.

People / Cyclosporiasis Is Surging: 8 Foods to Avoid
Steer clear of these foods as the parasitic diarrhea outbreak grows, says Dr. Sohaib Imtiaz, Chief Medical Officer at PEOPLE Inc.
https://people.com/cyclosporiasis-8-foo ... k-12020774

I doubt farmer’s markets with actual local farmers are affected. This problem affects mass produced lettuce.

Recalls on store-bought lettuce are usually a windfall for farmers markets that have homegrown.

[JohnH]

Terrible timing, farmers’ markets in their peak season.

People / Cyclosporiasis Is Surging: 8 Foods to Avoid
Steer clear of these foods as the parasitic diarrhea outbreak grows, says Dr. Sohaib Imtiaz, Chief Medical Officer at PEOPLE Inc.
https://people.com/cyclosporiasis-8-foo ... k-12020774

I doubt farmer’s markets with actual local farmers are affected. This problem affects mass produced lettuce.

Recalls on store-bought lettuce are usually a windfall for farmers markets that have homegrown.

Good point; I hadn't though of them being affected in a positive way.

The CDC advice is to buy whole-head lettuce and shred it yourself instead of bagged, pre-processed lettuce.

[Valerie]

I doubt farmer’s markets with actual local farmers are affected. This problem affects mass produced lettuce.

Recalls on store-bought lettuce are usually a windfall for farmers markets that have homegrown.

Good point; I hadn't though of them being affected in a positive way.

The CDC advice is to buy whole-head lettuce and shred it yourself instead of bagged, pre-processed lettuce.

This all brings back memory of a designer I worked with in early 90’s who was sick & she told me the doctor believed she got (whatever it was) from unclean lettuce.

[temporal1]

Recalls on store-bought lettuce are usually a windfall for farmers markets that have homegrown.

Good point; I hadn't though of them being affected in a positive way.
The CDC advice is to buy whole-head lettuce and shred it yourself instead of bagged, pre-processed lettuce.

This all brings back memory of a designer I worked with in early 90’s who was sick & she told me the doctor believed she got (whatever it was) from unclean lettuce.

Often, it’s listeria. A bacteria rather than a parasite.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-con ... c-20355269

[temporal1]

The headline was “Taco Bell related outbreak causing explosive diarrhoea” a week ago; I didn’t consider that newsworthy.
https://www.wlky.com/article/taco-bell- ... c/73169537

The experts at the FDA have pinpointed Taylor Farms lettuce as the culprit. That's kind of like saying that it was caused by potatoes. Taylor Farms is the world's largest salad producer, their lettuce is ubiquitous.

Taylor Farms Pulls Iceberg Lettuce Linked to Cyclosporiasis Outbreak
The company has voluntarily removed some of its iceberg lettuce from the U.S. market after it was linked to a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak
https://people.com/taylor-farms-pulls-i ... k-12022041

Investigators Identify Potential Source of Cyclosporiasis Outbreak: Report
Nearly 7,000 cases of the foodborne illness, which is known to cause “explosive” diarrhea, are currently being investigated by health officials
https://people.com/investigators-identi ... t-12021302

Taylor Farms / Salinas CA
https://www.taylorfarms.com/

[JohnH]

Fun fact: one reason these outbreaks are more common is because the bigger farms create unsanitary working conditions where they don't give workers adequate bathroom breaks, which leads to... you know... right in the fields.

[temporal1]

FDA / “Taylor Fresh Foods Recalls Iceberg Lettuce from Central Mexico Because of Possible Health Risk”
[When a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company's announcement as a public service. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.]
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-mark ... al-mexico- because-possible-health-risk

Company Announcement

Taylor Farms de Mexico of Guanajuato, Mexico is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Cyclospora. Most people infected with Cyclospora develop diarrhea, with frequent bowel movements. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache, and fever may be noted. Some people who are infected with Cyclospora do not have any symptoms. If not treated, the illness may lead to dehydration and severe complications that may require higher levels of care. These complications may last from a few days to a month or longer. Symptoms may seem to go away and then return one or more times (relapse). Immunocompromised persons may experience more severe illness of longer duration along with complications requiring close medical attention.

This action was prompted by the multistate Cyclospora outbreak https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-food ... -july-2026. We are actively removing the implicated products. The company has stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of the iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico, notified our customers, and we are continuing to work with the FDA, CDC, and state authorities.

The shredded iceberg product was distributed June 29th thru July 16th in AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WI.

A complete list of affected products, lot codes, use-by dates and instructions for returning or disposing of them is available here:

chart follows ..

“Taylor Farms Says FDA Has Apologized Over ‘False Positive’ Cyclospora Test” ????
https://www.newsweek.com/taylor-farms-s ... t-12216498

^^i’m confused.

- - - - - - -

For many years, i’ve noticed imported fruits+vegetables sold at farmers’ markets, too.

My daughter in WA has certain local producers she follows and looks for.
One year when i was there she was part of a group that bought local fruit, then divided it up.

That was heavenly!
She stopped because they were often getting more fruit than they could eat. boohoo.
It reminded me of the fruit of my childhood. Everything at peak freshness for eating. Really nice.

[mike]

FDA / “Taylor Fresh Foods Recalls Iceberg Lettuce from Central Mexico Because of Possible Health Risk”
[When a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company's announcement as a public service. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.]
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-mark ... al-mexico- because-possible-health-risk

Company Announcement

Taylor Farms de Mexico of Guanajuato, Mexico is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the U.S. market, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Cyclospora. Most people infected with Cyclospora develop diarrhea, with frequent bowel movements. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache, and fever may be noted. Some people who are infected with Cyclospora do not have any symptoms. If not treated, the illness may lead to dehydration and severe complications that may require higher levels of care. These complications may last from a few days to a month or longer. Symptoms may seem to go away and then return one or more times (relapse). Immunocompromised persons may experience more severe illness of longer duration along with complications requiring close medical attention.

This action was prompted by the multistate Cyclospora outbreak https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-food ... -july-2026. We are actively removing the implicated products. The company has stopped receiving product from the implicated lot, suspended distribution of the iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico, notified our customers, and we are continuing to work with the FDA, CDC, and state authorities.

The shredded iceberg product was distributed June 29th thru July 16th in AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WI.

A complete list of affected products, lot codes, use-by dates and instructions for returning or disposing of them is available here:

chart follows ..

“Taylor Farms Says FDA Has Apologized Over ‘False Positive’ Cyclospora Test” ????
https://www.newsweek.com/taylor-farms-s ... t-12216498

^^i’m confused.

- - - - - - -

For many years, i’ve noticed imported fruits+vegetables sold at farmers’ markets, too.

My daughter in WA has certain local producers she follows and looks for.
One year when i was there she was part of a group that bought local fruit, then divided it up.

That was heavenly!
She stopped because they were often getting more fruit than they could eat. boohoo.
It reminded me of the fruit of my childhood. Everything at peak freshness for eating. Really nice.

Backtrack. That doesn’t happen too often.

[temporal1]

CANDIDA AURIS

Deadly Fungus Confirmed in 23 States. It’s Nearly Impossible to Treat
Candida auris — a lethal fungus which spreads easily in hospitals — is on the rise, and it’s resistant to most medications
https://people.com/deadly-fungus-confir ... n-12033887

NEED TO KNOW
Candida auris cases are rising rapidly in the U.S., with 3,130 confirmed cases as of mid-July 2026

The fungus spreads easily in healthcare settings and primarily affects severely ill patients using invasive medical equipment

Many strains are resistant to major anti-fungal drugs, making treatment options extremely limited and concerning for experts

[JimFoxvog]

For many years, i’ve noticed imported fruits+vegetables sold at farmers’ markets, too.

I don't consider that a real farmers' market. The ones that I've sold at all require the farmers to have raised the produce themselves.