Taco Bell eyed in explosive diarrheal outbreak; leafy greens suspected

Here's something that’ll make you think twice about salad bars — Michigan’s recent outbreak of Cyclospora is exploding, with cases jumping from around 50 to over 3,300 this year. Beth Mole, writing for Technology, reports that leafy greens are now the prime suspect in this diarrheal nightmare. And get this — investigators believe contaminated lettuce and salad greens are spreading the parasite, which causes intense watery diarrhea and cramps. According to Beth, over 1,000 interviews in Michigan point directly to these leafy vegetables, with 44 people hospitalized so far. Now, here’s where it gets even more concerning — this isn’t just a local problem. The outbreak’s hitting nationwide levels, but Michigan’s numbers are especially shocking. What Beth emphasizes is that such a surge highlights how vulnerable our food supply can be, especially when contaminated greens make their way into restaurants and grocery stores. So, if this pattern continues, the next big lesson will be how better food safety measures are absolutely essential — and fast.