Cyclospora is a mom’s nightmare. Explosive diarrhea is never fun, and avoiding it means limiting some of the most popular fruits that picky eating-kids tend to rely on. So now you have a true quandary – constipation from lack of produce, or well, the total opposite.
As the outbreak continues, there has been talk of certain brands like Taylor Farms being the source of the outbreak—but the information is conflicting and still developing.
We asked Vivek Cherian M.D., a Chicago based Internal Medicine physician and father, what parents really need to know, from what you truly need to avoid to what symptoms to watch for—and what to do if they hit your house.
Dietary changes, particularly for toddler moms or moms of neurodivergent kids, can be tough. What do we actually need to avoid serving our families?
I don’t think families need to panic, but I do think this is a reasonable time to be a little more selective about the produce you buy. Until we know more about the current outbreak, I’d consider temporarily avoiding higher-risk fresh produce such as bagged salads, leafy greens, fresh herbs, raspberries, blackberries, and fresh-cut fruit—especially if you’re serving young children, older adults, pregnant women, or anyone with a weakened immune system.
What are the safest fruits and vegetables to stock up on?
Lower-risk options include bananas, oranges, avocados, and melons that you peel yourself, frozen fruits and vegetables, or vegetables that can be cooked before eating. Heating food to 158°F (70°C) or higher kills Cyclospora, making cooked produce a safer choice during an outbreak.
Should we be avoiding certain restaurants?
As for restaurants, including Taco Bell, I wouldn’t avoid them outright unless public health officials identify a specific restaurant or ingredient linked to the outbreak. The concern isn’t the restaurant itself—it’s whether contaminated fresh produce was used.
Is there anything else we can do to prevent getting sick?
Stay up to date on FDA and CDC recall announcements. Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food. Don’t rely on alcohol-based hand sanitizer alone—it isn’t considered an effective substitute for preventing foodborne parasitic infections like Cyclospora. Rinse produce under running water, but remember that washing alone may not completely remove Cyclospora. Peeling fruits and choosing frozen or cooked fruits and vegetables when appropriate provide additional protection. The absolute safest option, when possible, is to thoroughly cook or heat food before eating, since adequate heat kills the parasite. Avoid cross-contamination between raw produce and other foods.
What are signs of this illness, and when should you see a doctor?
Cyclospora typically causes prolonged watery diarrhea that can last for weeks if untreated. Other symptoms include severe fatigue, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, decreased appetite, and weight loss.
If diarrhea lasts more than two to three days, is severe, or is accompanied by dehydration, significant fatigue, weight loss, or fever, it’s important to seek medical care. This is especially true for young children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Unlike most viral stomach illnesses, Cyclospora usually requires treatment with prescription antibiotics. The first-line therapy is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX, also known as Bactrim), along with aggressive hydration and electrolyte replacement. Seek urgent medical attention for signs of significant dehydration, such as dizziness, fainting, inability to keep fluids down, confusion, or markedly decreased urine output.
Anything else you’d like to share?
The overall takeaway for families is they don’t need to panic, but during this outbreak it’s reasonable to temporarily favor lower-risk options like peeled fruits, frozen fruits and vegetables, and cooked produce while avoiding higher-risk fresh produce until more is known. Stay informed about FDA and CDC updates, and remember that persistent diarrhea deserves medical evaluation because Cyclospora often requires antibiotics rather than simply waiting for it to resolve.
