Nearly 30,000 people got sick this summer from Cyclospora, a parasite found in fresh food?

Nearly 30,000 people got sick this summer from Cyclospora, a parasite found in fresh food.

The CDC tracks outbreaks like this, but the administration has stopped the research project?

The CDC tracks outbreaks like this, but the administration has stopped the research project.

Without the research, we may not know which foods caused it or how to prevent the next one.

Developer Tools

Ars Technica September 01, 2026

⚡Salad could make you sick — and the research to stop it was shelved.

Deep Dive

The CDC has tallied nearly 30,000 confirmed and probable cases this summer.

Key Points

Nearly 30,000 people got sick this summer from Cyclospora, a parasite found in fresh food.
The CDC tracks outbreaks like this, but the administration has stopped the research project.
Without the research, we may not know which foods caused it or how to prevent the next one.

When government research stops, you lose the warning system that tells you which foods may be unsafe to eat.