00:00You are no doubt unnervingly aware of what the internet has coined the diarrhea lettuce outbreak
00:05of 2026. Health officials are investigating the multi-state outbreak of the parasite
00:10cyclospora, which has been causing thousands to have, well there's no ungross way to put this,
00:15explosive diarrhea. And while they haven't identified a specific source, many of the people
00:20who got sick reported eating lettuce or other salad greens, and many also said they had recently
00:25eaten at Taco Bell. Bad jokes aside, Taco Bell has already voluntarily removed some fresh
00:31ingredients at select locations while the investigation continues. Now the CDC says
00:36more than 1,600 confirmed cases have been reported since May, with more than 5,000 additional suspected
00:41cases now under investigation. Now I know, explosive diarrhea doesn't sound fun, doesn't sound pretty,
00:47but it's more than that. At least 145 people have been hospitalized during this outbreak.
00:53Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that, in addition to the diarrhea, can cause stomach
00:58cramps, fatigue, and other digestive issues. Now doctors say the illness isn't usually
01:02life-threatening, but it can last for weeks if left untreated. Weeks of that.
01:10So, should you stop eating salads? Experts say no. Federal health officials haven't issued any warning
01:15to avoid lettuce or other fresh produce for now. Instead, they recommend thoroughly washing leafy
01:20greens, washing your hands before preparing food, and seeking medical care if you develop persistent
01:24or severe or explosive diarrhea. And if you're looking to play it, extra safe for now. Some
01:29experts suggest choosing whole heads of lettuce instead of those bagged salad mixes, just until
01:34investigators pinpoint the source of the outbreak.
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