Is lettuce available in your area?

[kphoger]

Even if someone were to get sick they likely would just shit everything out and be fine in a couple days.

Actually, diarrhea from cyclospora tends to come back just when you think you're over it.  It can last for a couple of weeks.

[Max Rockatansky]

Even if someone were to get sick they likely would just shit everything out and be fine in a couple days.

Actually, diarrhea from cyclospora tends to come back just when you think you're over it.  It can last for a couple of weeks.

Even still, things like that will probably happen to everyone of sooner or later. 

[Rothman]

Even if someone were to get sick they likely would just shit everything out and be fine in a couple days.

Actually, diarrhea from cyclospora tends to come back just when you think you're over it.  It can last for a couple of weeks.

Even still, things like that will probably happen to everyone of sooner or later. 

Two week long diarhhea?  No.  And, would rather it not happen to me.

[Max Rockatansky]

Even if someone were to get sick they likely would just shit everything out and be fine in a couple days.

Actually, diarrhea from cyclospora tends to come back just when you think you're over it.  It can last for a couple of weeks.

Even still, things like that will probably happen to everyone of sooner or later. 

Two week long diarhhea?  No.  And, would rather it not happen to me.

Who would?  I would think most people will have the displeasure of going through something like that at least once during their lifetime. 

[vdeane]

At any rate, lettuce is available in my area, because why would it be?  It only wouldn't be available if all the stores around here only sold the brands and types of lettuce that are under investigation for contamination.

I mean, unless they're able to increase the quantity they stock of other brands, that would still result in a reduction of supply relative to demand that could lead to shortages.

[Scott5114]

Pretty impressive, that the store apparently had the hardware available to re-seal the new bags...

I have the hardware available to reseal bags. It's called an impulse sealer, and it's basically just a hair straightener but in a more ergonomic form factor. All it does is get really hot when you squeeze it together, so if you tuck a plastic bag in it when doing so it will melt the plastic in a straight line across the bag, thus sealing it. It looks like the one I have still sells for less than $100.

That being said, for the reasons you and others have mentioned (as well as that lettuce is such a low-margin item that there's pretty much no way the labor cost required would be worth the chance of an extra sale) I doubt that anyone is rebagging lettuce. But it's not because the equipment is hard to get.

[kphoger]

At any rate, lettuce is available in my area, because why would it be?  It only wouldn't be available if all the stores around here only sold the brands and types of lettuce that are under investigation for contamination.

I mean, unless they're able to increase the quantity they stock of other brands, that would still result in a reduction of supply relative to demand that could lead to shortages.

Last I knew, what's under investigation was only shredded salad mix bags, and only those that contain iceberg lettuce, and only from one supplier, and only from one region of Mexico.  What percentage of the lettuce in any given area would you expect to be affected by that?  And, considering how many people are apparently freaking out and not buying lettuce at all right now, I'd actually expect there to be a glut of lettuce on store shelves rather than a shortage.

[Scott5114]

Last I knew, what's under investigation was only shredded salad mix bags, and only those that contain iceberg lettuce, and only from one supplier, and only from one region of Mexico.  What percentage of the lettuce in any given area would you expect to be affected by that?

With how well I know how the lettuce supply chain works...anywhere from 0 to 100%? It is not as though there aren't products in this country where there's 20 brands on the market all being produced by the same supplier...

Besides, even if I'm statistically unlikely to shit myself from eating any given lettuce, it's not like I really like lettuce, so I may as well go without and reduce that risk to zero!

[Max Rockatansky]

Last I knew, what's under investigation was only shredded salad mix bags, and only those that contain iceberg lettuce, and only from one supplier, and only from one region of Mexico.  What percentage of the lettuce in any given area would you expect to be affected by that?

With how well I know how the lettuce supply chain works...anywhere from 0 to 100%? It is not as though there aren't products in this country where there's 20 brands on the market all being produced by the same supplier...

Besides, even if I'm statistically unlikely to shit myself from eating any given lettuce, it's not like I really like lettuce, so I may as well go without and reduce that risk to zero!

I'm no particular lettuce fan myself and I haven't eaten any in probably at least two months.  Even still, I called out today due to severe digestive issues.  Given my issue has seemingly leveled out in the last hour or so I'm guessing that it wasn't something parasitic/explosive.  Nonetheless, avoiding one particular food in the news might not necessarily lead to absolute digestive safety.

[kphoger]

Last I knew, what's under investigation was only shredded salad mix bags, and only those that contain iceberg lettuce, and only from one supplier, and only from one region of Mexico.  What percentage of the lettuce in any given area would you expect to be affected by that?

With how well I know how the lettuce supply chain works...anywhere from 0 to 100%? It is not as though there aren't products in this country where there's 20 brands on the market all being produced by the same supplier...

In what region does bagged salad mix account for anywhere near 100% of the lettuce sold in stores?  Is there some city where nobody buys actual heads of lettuce?

Heads of iceberg lettuce = not under investigation
Other types of lettuce = not under investigation
Bagged salad kits without iceberg = not under investigation

Our local Dillons has a dozen or two different types of bagged salad kits or bagged greens of some sort.  I just skimmed through the ingredient list for every one of them online, and I can only find two that even have iceberg lettuce as an ingredient at all:  Kroger Classic Garden Salad, and Kroger Shredded Iceberg Lettuce.  Every other thing of bagged greens is made only of other varieties of lettuce. 

[I-57/Route 66 Fan]

I had Chick-Fil-A lettuce a couple days ago, I am OK.

Of course you're OK.  This outbreak is way less of a risk than normal everyday foodborne illness.  So far in the USA this year, there have been about 300 hospitalizations and zero deaths linked to the cyclospora outbreak.  For comparison, in a typical year there are about 100,000 hospitalizations and 900 deaths linked to good old foodborne norovirus.  Sure, this outbreak causes worse symptoms that last longer, but your chances of getting it are pretty trivial.

Besides which, you probably wouldn't be showing symptoms this soon anyway.  Cyclospora can't just proliferate in your gut the way norovirus does:  they can only thrive inside the actual cells of your intestinal lining, and it typically takes a week or two for the fun to begin.

So that's why I feeling well one day about a week and a half ago.

Oops I meant not feeling well.

[kphoger]

Oops I meant not feeling well.

If you weren't feeling well, then it's probably because you had a mild stomach bug.  Totally normal.

[Rothman]

Even if someone were to get sick they likely would just shit everything out and be fine in a couple days.

Actually, diarrhea from cyclospora tends to come back just when you think you're over it.  It can last for a couple of weeks.

Even still, things like that will probably happen to everyone of sooner or later. 

Two week long diarhhea?  No.  And, would rather it not happen to me.

Who would?  I would think most people will have the displeasure of going through something like that at least once during their lifetime. 

Two week long diarrhea?  No.

[Max Rockatansky]

Even if someone were to get sick they likely would just shit everything out and be fine in a couple days.

Actually, diarrhea from cyclospora tends to come back just when you think you're over it.  It can last for a couple of weeks.

Even still, things like that will probably happen to everyone of sooner or later. 

Two week long diarhhea?  No.  And, would rather it not happen to me.

Who would?  I would think most people will have the displeasure of going through something like that at least once during their lifetime. 

Two week long diarrhea?  No.

I talked about it before but whatever I had from December 2019 through February 2020 included a consist bout of stomach issues.  A nasty flu I caught back in 2016 also came with about two weeks of stomach issues. 

[Rothman]

Even if someone were to get sick they likely would just shit everything out and be fine in a couple days.

Actually, diarrhea from cyclospora tends to come back just when you think you're over it.  It can last for a couple of weeks.

Even still, things like that will probably happen to everyone of sooner or later. 

Two week long diarhhea?  No.  And, would rather it not happen to me.

Who would?  I would think most people will have the displeasure of going through something like that at least once during their lifetime. 

Two week long diarrhea?  No.

I talked about it before but whatever I had from December 2019 through February 2020 included a consist bout of stomach issues.  A nasty flu I caught back in 2016 also came with about two weeks of stomach issues. 

You're an outlier in this regard.

[kalvado]

Last I knew, what's under investigation was only shredded salad mix bags, and only those that contain iceberg lettuce, and only from one supplier, and only from one region of Mexico.  What percentage of the lettuce in any given area would you expect to be affected by that?

With how well I know how the lettuce supply chain works...anywhere from 0 to 100%? It is not as though there aren't products in this country where there's 20 brands on the market all being produced by the same supplier...

Besides, even if I'm statistically unlikely to shit myself from eating any given lettuce, it's not like I really like lettuce, so I may as well go without and reduce that risk to zero!

I'm no particular lettuce fan myself and I haven't eaten any in probably at least two months.  Even still, I called out today due to severe digestive issues.  Given my issue has seemingly leveled out in the last hour or so I'm guessing that it wasn't something parasitic/explosive.  Nonetheless, avoiding one particular food in the news might not necessarily lead to absolute digestive safety.

Do I remember correctly you described some Mexican trips into less than touristy places? then it's quite possible you had this thing and already immune to it.
In the tropical  areas of a globe a lot of food is testing positive, and sizeable portion of population (few % in Mexico, up to 40% elsewhere) have the thing without symptoms. Just like we don't bother with a little cold up north.

[Max Rockatansky]

Last I knew, what's under investigation was only shredded salad mix bags, and only those that contain iceberg lettuce, and only from one supplier, and only from one region of Mexico.  What percentage of the lettuce in any given area would you expect to be affected by that?

With how well I know how the lettuce supply chain works...anywhere from 0 to 100%? It is not as though there aren't products in this country where there's 20 brands on the market all being produced by the same supplier...

Besides, even if I'm statistically unlikely to shit myself from eating any given lettuce, it's not like I really like lettuce, so I may as well go without and reduce that risk to zero!

I'm no particular lettuce fan myself and I haven't eaten any in probably at least two months.  Even still, I called out today due to severe digestive issues.  Given my issue has seemingly leveled out in the last hour or so I'm guessing that it wasn't something parasitic/explosive.  Nonetheless, avoiding one particular food in the news might not necessarily lead to absolute digestive safety.

Do I remember correctly you described some Mexican trips into less than touristy places? then it's quite possible you had this thing and already immune to it.
In the tropical  areas of a globe a lot of food is testing positive, and sizeable portion of population (few % in Mexico, up to 40% elsewhere) have the thing without symptoms. Just like we don't bother with a little cold up north.

Possibly?  My wife usually gets sick to her stomach at least once on our trips to Jalisco.  I've never gotten sick myself. 

Most of what we eat in Mexico gets cooked shortly after we purchase it.  Leftovers aren't really a thing down there. 

[kphoger]

Most of what we eat in Mexico gets cooked shortly after we purchase it.  Leftovers aren't really a thing down there. 

Any leftovers just get put in with the eggs next morning!  Or, if it's only a tiny bit, given to your favorite dog...

[Max Rockatansky]

Most of what we eat in Mexico gets cooked shortly after we purchase it.  Leftovers aren't really a thing down there. 

Any leftovers just get put in with the eggs next morning!  Or, if it's only a tiny bit, given to your favorite dog...

They got four dogs and two cats down in Jalisco.  All of them end up getting most of the daily scraps. 

[hbelkins]

My understanding is that the contaminated lettuce was/is limited to Taylor Farms lettuce sold to Taco Bell, and the outbreak has not yet been linked to any other brand of lettuce or any lettuce not consumed by non-Taco Bell customers.

[kalvado]

My understanding is that the contaminated lettuce was/is limited to Taylor Farms lettuce sold to Taco Bell, and the outbreak has not yet been linked to any other brand of lettuce or any lettuce not consumed by non-Taco Bell customers.

It's explicitly not limited to Taco Bell. They should consider timely donations to proper people  though not to be single out

[JayhawkCO]

My understanding is that the contaminated lettuce was/is limited to Taylor Farms lettuce sold to Taco Bell, and the outbreak has not yet been linked to any other brand of lettuce or any lettuce not consumed by non-Taco Bell customers.

Granted, I don't know how popular Taco Bell is in Michigan, but https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/21/health/cyclospora-cases-count says that 1 in 1,000 people in Michigan have had cyclosporiasis over the past three months. That seems high if it's just limited to Taco Bell.

The same article mentions that Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce from 27 states, some of which went to Walmart, Jack in the Box, and other food services.