What's going on
The U.S. is having an unusually large cyclosporiasis season: 5,100+ cases reported to the CDC in 2026 so far, versus 2,700 for all of 2025, across 30+ states.
Past outbreaks have also involved fresh cilantro, basil, raspberries, snow peas, and green onions — several are low-FODMAP staples.
The basics
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Spread by food or water contaminated with human fecal matter — not person-to-person.
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Symptoms start ~1 week after exposure (range 2 days-2 weeks): watery diarrhea, cramping, bloating, fatigue, loss of appetite. Can wax and wane for weeks untreated.
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Diagnosed via stool test; treated with a specific antibiotic (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole).
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Washing helps but doesn't guarantee removal. The parasite resists routine sanitizers. Cooking is the reliable method to remove cyclospora.
Do this now
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Toss any iceberg lettuce/salad kits.
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Skip raw lettuce at chains in affected states for now.
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Favor cooked produce over raw for the items below.
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Immunocompromised? Call your doctor promptly for any persistent diarrhea.
Low-FODMAP swaps
|
Higher-risk item |
Swap |
|
Iceberg/bagged salad |
Cooked greens (sautéed spinach, wilted kale) |
|
Fresh cilantro |
Dried cilantro, home-grown, or blanch before using |
|
Fresh basil |
Dried basil, home-grown, or cook into sauces |
|
Raspberries |
Firm banana, orange, mandarin, kiwi, grapes, cantaloupe — none of these are currently implicated, just rinse well before cutting |
|
Snow peas |
Frozen green beans/peas, cooked |
|
Green onion tops |
Dried chives, or cook fresh chives/scallions briefly |
These foods are still fine — just favor cooked, dried, or home-grown over raw/bagged/restaurant-sourced for now.
Non-fruit ways to fill the fiber/nutrient gap (useful if you want to lean off fresh produce for a bit):
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Oats (low-FODMAP, good soluble fiber)
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Chia seeds or ground flaxseed (small servings, ~1 tbsp) — high in fiber and omega-3s
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Quinoa or rice bran
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Cooked low-FODMAP vegetables: carrots, zucchini, cucumber (peeled), bell pepper, spinach — cooking handles both fiber needs and safety
Kitchen habits
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Rinse everything, even if peeling or cooking.
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Separate cutting boards for raw produce.
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Cook leafy greens/herbs into dishes instead of eating raw when possible.
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Watch FDA/CDC recall updates.
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Tap water is treated and low-risk; the concern is irrigation water, not your faucet.
If you think you have it
Persistent watery diarrhea with fatigue and appetite loss for several days warrants a stool test—ask specifically for Cyclospora testing. Hydrate and eat gentle low-FODMAP foods (rice, cooked carrots, banana, plain oats) while recovering. Seek urgent care for dizziness, racing heart, inability to keep fluids down, or blood in stool.
This is general information, not medical advice. If immunocompromised, don't wait to call your provider.
Easing back into FODMAPs with FODZYME
FODZYME breaks down FODMAP carbs (fructans, GOS, lactose) in food before they reach your gut. It doesn't act on the parasite, your microbiome, or symptoms already in progress. It's not a cure and does not treat infection.
However, FODZYME may be useful post-illness. Your gut often stays sensitive for weeks after any infectious diarrhea (temporary lactose intolerance, slower motility, general touchiness). Foods you'd normally tolerate may cause more bloating than usual during this period.
What FODZYME won't do: speed antibiotic recovery, repair gut lining, or reset your microbiome. Those happen on their own with rest, hydration, and time. Persistent symptoms still need a clinician.
Bottom line: once treated (or recovered) and reintroducing food, FODZYME can make that transition more comfortable—the actual healing is on your gut's own timeline.
For updates
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CDC: cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks
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FDA: fda.gov (search "Cyclospora iceberg lettuce")
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Your state health department's outbreak page