Nutrition experts gathered at one of the country's largest food science conferences are eating salads despite an ongoing cyclospora outbreak affecting more than 11,000 people across 46 states. While the parasite causes severe gastrointestinal illness, researchers and dietitians understand something crucial about food safety that shapes their risk calculations differently than the general public.

What's Actually Happening With the Cyclospora Outbreak?

The cyclospora outbreak remains active and under investigation. More than 11,000 people in 46 states have been sickened with a parasite that causes explosive diarrhea, and the FDA, CDC, and local health officials recently expanded their investigation to include additional states. Iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms remains under investigation, along with questions about lettuce, herbs, and berries.

The outbreak's origins trace back to how fresh produce moves through the food system. Cyclospora typically arrives through contamination at various points in the supply chain:

• Environmental contamination: Plants grow in soil and water that may contain fecal matter from animals or humans
• Handling and transport: Fruits and vegetables are picked, handled, and transported by many people before reaching your plate, and not everyone follows proper hand hygiene
• Batch mixing: Products like bagged salads are particularly problematic because greens are mixed together and then spread across large batches, allowing any contamination to travel far and wide

Investigators initially thought they had found cyclospora in a Taylor Farms lettuce sample, only to later determine the result was a false positive, leading to mixed messages about what is or isn't safe to eat.

Why Are Nutrition Experts Still Eating Salads?

At Nutrition 2026, one of the country's biggest nutrition conferences where 3,000 doctors, dietitians, and food science researchers gathered, the buffet lunch featured chopped salads. Most attendees ate them without hesitation. This wasn't because they dismissed the outbreak as overblown, but because they understood something fundamental about risk that differs from public perception.

"The anxiety people feel around this outbreak is understandable. If you aren't comfortable eating lettuce right now, the good news is there are lots of other types of produce," said Alyssa Pike, a registered dietitian and senior manager of food safety at the International Food Information Council.

Alyssa Pike, Registered Dietitian and Senior Manager of Food Safety, International Food Information Council

The key insight: the absolute risk of getting sick from any given salad remains relatively low, while the health benefits of eating vegetables remain overwhelming. Nutrition experts weigh these competing factors differently than consumers who may feel paralyzed by uncertainty.

Psychologist William Hallman, who researches food risk communication at Rutgers University, explained that conference attendees have a fundamentally different relationship with the food system than average consumers. They're more familiar with how outbreaks are investigated, how contamination spreads, and how to interpret evolving public health guidance. For non-experts, cutting back on greens offers only a limited sense of comfort amid confusion.

How to Navigate Food Safety Without Abandoning Healthy Eating

Rather than swearing off salads entirely, nutrition experts recommend a more nuanced approach based on your personal risk tolerance and circumstances:

• Know the source: Buy local produce when possible, since the scale of the outbreak makes it more likely to be tied to a large distributor than to a small farm
• Check active recalls: Pay close attention to FDA and CDC recalls and avoid products that health officials are actively investigating, rather than avoiding all greens broadly
• Diversify your vegetables: If you're uncomfortable with lettuce right now, switch to lower-risk vegetables like cucumbers, or explore other produce options entirely
• Understand your risk context: If you're in an area with fewer cases of cyclospora, or if you know the source of your produce, your risk calculation changes

The broader lesson from the conference is that there is no perfect way to eat. The alternative of consuming ultra-processed convenience foods all weekend would create a different kind of digestive disaster. Stress itself can trigger gastrointestinal problems, adding another layer to the risk-benefit equation.

Why Public Messaging Matters More Than Statistics

One of the defining features of this outbreak is the contradictory messaging that has confused consumers. Investigators initially thought they had identified the source, only to walk back those findings. This uncertainty has real consequences for how people make food choices.

"Many consumers are avoiding salads not because the statistical risk of cyclospora infection is high, but because the public messaging around the outbreak has been contradictory and difficult to interpret. People want to feel in control of the food choices they make for themselves and their families," explained William Hallman, a psychologist who researches food risk communication at Rutgers University.

William Hallman, Psychologist, Rutgers University

Since the iceberg lettuce has been voluntarily recalled from grocery store shelves and restaurants like Taco Bell, consumers can feel safer about lunch. The key is understanding that avoiding one specific product is different from avoiding an entire food category.

The takeaway from nutrition experts is straightforward: be cautious, but don't panic. Monitor official health guidance, know where your food comes from when possible, and remember that the health benefits of eating vegetables far outweigh the statistical risk of any single outbreak.