What New Mexicans should know about nationwide lettuce parasite

The phrase “explosive diarrhea” has recently been making national headlines since the cyclospora parasite outbreak began in May, with no confirmed link to any one specific food or supplier.  

The parasite causes a corresponding gastrointestinal disease, cyclosporiasis, which has seen an increase in cases since the cyclospora surveillance period began on May 1, with 4,173 confirmed cases and 308 hospitalizations across 41 states, according to July 20 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

New Mexico Department of Health Communications Coordinator David Barre wrote in a statement to the Daily Lobo that there is one confirmed case in Bernalillo County, but it is believed that the infection was acquired out of state. 

Several cyclosporiasis cases have been found to be linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell, which is still under investigation for the disease despite a recent positive test by the Food and Drug Administration being retracted, according to NPR. 

There have been no links found between cyclospora and specific foods or restaurants — including Taco Bell — in New Mexico, according to Barre.   

Calavida Brewery Distillery, located in Corrales, announced via an Instagram post that they will temporarily not be serving lettuce due to a “produce-related illness outbreak,” adding that lettuce has “officially been grounded.” 

Taproom Manager Melanie Jimenez wrote that the restaurant has had no issues with their lettuce, but that they decided to stop serving it “out of an abundance of caution until everything is sorted out,” and that “food safety comes first.”   

“We were just trying to encourage a few smiles while also letting our guests know we were taking this seriously and choosing to be extra cautious,” Jimenez wrote.    

Barre wrote that the cyclospora outbreak does not appear to be linked to small local farms, but that contamination is possible if infected fecal materials come into contact with the food or water supply.

Cyclospora symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and frequent, often explosive bowel movements, which typically last from a few weeks to a month, but may persist for longer and especially in immunocompromised patients, according to Barre. 

There is no evidence of local contamination or increasing cyclosporiasis cases in New Mexico, but NMDOH still advises prevention measures including hand washing and washing of produce to prevent not only cyclospora, but a variety of diarrheal illnesses, Barre wrote.   

Paloma Chapa is the news and multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88

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