Americans Swap Raw Salads for Cooked Vegetables as Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens Thousands
Updated
Updated · Slate · Jul 17
Americans Swap Raw Salads for Cooked Vegetables as Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens Thousands
3 articles · Updated · Slate · Jul 17
Summary
Cooked greens and lettuce-free bowls are replacing raw salads in many U.S. lunches as a national cyclosporiasis outbreak unsettles office workers, grocery shoppers and fast-casual diners.
Thousands of infections and uncertainty over the source have pushed suspicion onto bagged, mass-processed salad mixes; high heat kills the parasite, but washing may not remove it from prepackaged lettuce.
Taco Bell has temporarily removed some ingredients in parts of the Midwest and Appalachia, while chains tied to salad-heavy menus have felt pressure—shares of Sweetgreen, Cava, Chipotle and Yum Brands fell this week.
Store and restaurant anecdotes point to softer demand for boxed salads and some salad chains, even as customers keep ordering bowls with the lettuce and herbs left out.
With cases elevated across multiple states, the outbreak is starting to reshape short-term lunch routines and could weigh on health-food and produce sellers until investigators identify the source.