"Parasitic Outbreak: Bagged Salad Linked to Spike in Stomach Bug Cases"
A spike in cases of cyclosporiasis, a stomach illness causing explosive diarrhea, in Florida was partly linked to people consuming bagged salad containing a parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a doubling of cases in 2022, with 330 individuals who hadn't traveled internationally being exposed to prewashed bagged salad. Genetic testing traced the illnesses back to bagged salad, but the source of contamination remains unknown. Leafy greens, including salad, are a common cause of food poisoning due to various points of contamination before consumption. Properly washing fresh produce and refrigerating it can help prevent the spread of cyclosporiasis.