Grocery Shopping in the Age of Explosive Diarrhea
a day ago
- A major cyclosporiasis outbreak in the US, centered in Michigan, has caused thousands of cases of severe diarrhea.
- The parasite cyclospora contaminates produce via human feces, often from irrigation or flooding, and cannot be cultured in a lab.
- Social media identified Taylor Fresh Foods as a likely source, but the company supplies many retailers under different brand names.
- Federal public health agencies have been severely weakened by DOGE cuts, losing 20-25% of staff and key surveillance teams.
- The Food Traceability Rule, which would have required companies to quickly provide data, was delayed to 2028 due to lobbying.
- Official messaging from HHS Secretary Kennedy was confusing and downplayed the outbreak, while cases continued to rise.
- By late July, Michigan had nearly 7,000 cases, and a new cyclospora outbreak of 72 cases was announced.