Florida’s healthy lunch choice is facing new scrutiny as more than 250 confirmed and probable cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported across 39 counties since May 1, including 11 cases in Pinellas County.
The intestinal illness is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite transmitted through contaminated food or water. It can cause frequent, prolonged watery diarrhea, along with stomach cramps, bloating, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Cyclospora Cases Continue to Rise Across Florida
The latest state surveillance figures place Florida’s case count above 250, with infections reported throughout South Florida, Central Florida and the Tampa Bay region.
Florida’s totals include confirmed and probable cases. The state assigns each case to the patient’s county of residence, which does not necessarily indicate where the person bought or consumed the contaminated food. The numbers may also change as investigations and laboratory testing continue.
Health officials have not identified one restaurant, product or supplier responsible for all of Florida’s reported illnesses.
Recalled Salad Products Were Sold in Florida
The increase comes amid a separate federal investigation involving iceberg lettuce recalled by Taylor Farms de Mexico.
The recall includes select Marketside Iceberg Salad and Shredded Lettuce products sold at Walmart. Affected packages carried “Best if Used By” dates ranging from July 18 through Aug. 3. Recalled iceberg products were also distributed to food-service customers in Florida between June 29 and July 16.
Although the latest listed date has passed, some consumers may still have the affected salad or shredded lettuce in their refrigerators.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has advised consumers, restaurants and retailers to discard the recalled products and clean any surfaces or containers that came into contact with them.
Florida Cases Are Not Officially Linked to the Lettuce Outbreak
The recalled lettuce may explain some illnesses nationally, but federal officials have not connected Florida’s overall rise in cases to that specific outbreak.
The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have linked the Taylor Farms lettuce to illnesses reported in nine states: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Florida is not currently included among the states with cases officially tied to that outbreak.
However, the recalled products were distributed and sold in Florida. That means residents may have encountered the lettuce even though the state’s reported cases have not been formally added to the federal outbreak count.
Florida’s cases could involve multiple sources, including separate food exposures, infections acquired while traveling and illnesses that remain under investigation.
What Florida Residents Should Watch For
Cyclospora symptoms may begin several days or more after a person consumes contaminated food. The most common symptom is frequent watery diarrhea, which can continue for weeks and may appear to improve before returning.
Other symptoms can include:
- Stomach cramps or pain
- Bloating and increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fever, headache or body aches
Untreated illness can lead to dehydration and may be more serious for people with weakened immune systems.
Florida residents experiencing persistent watery diarrhea should contact a healthcare provider, particularly if they ate shredded iceberg lettuce during the two weeks before becoming sick. Federal officials said the investigation remains ongoing and additional products, retailers or distribution channels could still be identified.