Protecting Consumers from Foodborne Cyclospora Parasite

Summary

Bloomberg Businessweek Podcast Summary

Episode: Protecting Consumers from Foodborne Cyclospora Parasite
Date: July 20, 2026
Hosts: Carol Massar & Tim Stenovec
Guest: Dr. William Schaffner – Professor of Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

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Overview:

This episode tackles the recent outbreak of the Cyclospora parasite linked to tainted shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to major fast-food chains, with Dr. William Schaffner bringing expert insight. The hosts discuss consumer safety, how such outbreaks occur in today's global food system, and both the practical and psychological effects on American eating habits. Dr. Schaffner also briefly covers the concurrent Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City and explains how waterborne bacteria cause illness.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Current Situation: Cyclospora Outbreak

• Supply Chain and Source:

  • The outbreak is traced back to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants, linked to a single supplier sourcing from a farm in Mexico.
  • "The CDCs and the state health department disease detectives have implicated shredded iceberg lettuce from a particular supplier... as the source of this parasitic infection. So I hope it's coming to an end pretty soon." (Dr. Schaffner, 03:07)

• Impact on Consumers:

  • Michigan has reported over 5,000 infections; concern is spreading in other states, including New York.
  • "We seem to be getting to the end of this outbreak…" (Dr. Schaffner, 03:07)

• Consumer Behavior:

  • Panic response as people avoid salads and greens, reflecting deep unease about the safety of fresh produce.
  • "Is it when can I eat salads again, right? Like I have cilantro. Like is it over?" (Co-host, 02:19)
  • "People began avoiding eating lettuce and things like that. That's a prudent thing to do, particularly if you're older, you're frail, you have an underlying illness, you're pregnant, you're immune compromised. Smart. Be careful, right?" (Dr. Schaffner, 06:00)

2. Food Safety Practices

• Home Precautions:

  • Dr. Schaffner emphasizes washing and, where possible, peeling or cooking produce brought into the home.
  • "If you bring produce into the house, we wash it thoroughly, brush it off if you can, and as the saying goes, wash it, peel it, or cook it." (Dr. Schaffner, 03:52)

• National vs. Local Food Distribution:

  • Explains how modern, centralized food supply chains create the conditions for widespread outbreaks.
  • "Now that we have widespread national distribution, often from international sources, indeed, you can get foodborne outbreaks that are spread over a much larger geographic area..." (Dr. Schaffner, 04:40)

3. Outbreak Frequency and Severity

• Has this become more common?

  • Regular seasonal cases of Cyclospora in the US, but this year’s outbreak is "prodigious" in size.
  • "Each year, late spring, early summer, we have some cyclosporic cases that occur, but this is prodigious. This is a very large outbreak." (Dr. Schaffner, 06:00)

• Risk Considerations:

  • Special caution is warranted for vulnerable populations: elderly, frail, pregnant, or immuno-compromised individuals.

4. Public Perception and Media Impact

• Fear vs. Data:

  • The palpable national anxiety mirrors the size of the outbreak, but sweeping dietary restrictions may not always be necessary.
  • "It almost felt closer to home. Was the fear justified? Did the numbers actually justify, you know, people completely cutting salad out of their diet for two weeks?" (Co-host, 05:32)

• Humor and Myths:

  • Dismisses the dangerous joke that a parasite could aid in weight loss:
    • "Don't make jokes about wanting to get this and to lose weight. I've heard so many people say that. I'm like, you really don't want this kind of stuff." (Host, 06:43)

5. Quick Overview: Legionnaires’ Outbreak in NYC

• Nature of the Illness:

  • Legionella bacteria originate from water sources; air conditioning cooling towers are a frequent culprit in urban outbreaks.
  • "These air conditioning cooling towers create kind of a spray... It's almost like a mist, and that can contain the bacteria. You inhale it, and as a consequence, you get pneumonia." (Dr. Schaffner, 07:25)

• Regulatory Response:

  • NYC requires building owners to maintain cooling towers, but lapses allow for outbreaks. The Health Department’s response is credited for containing the situation.
  • "The Health Department has been very vigorous in getting to the source of this, and I think this outbreak is now at an end." (Dr. Schaffner, 08:33)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you bring produce into the house, we wash it thoroughly, brush it off if you can, and as the saying goes, wash it, peel it, or cook it."
  — Dr. William Schaffner, 03:52

• "Back in the old days, 1930s, 40s and 50s, when most of the food was locally grown and used, foodborne outbreaks were more localized. Now that we have widespread national distribution, often from international sources... you can get foodborne outbreaks that are spread over a much larger geographic area and involve more people."
  — Dr. William Schaffner, 04:40

• "People began avoiding eating lettuce and things like that. That's a prudent thing to do, particularly if you're older, you're frail, you have an underlying illness, you're pregnant, you're immune compromised. Smart. Be careful, right?"
  — Dr. William Schaffner, 06:00

• "Don't make jokes about wanting to get this and to lose weight. I've heard so many people say that. I'm like, you really don't want this kind of stuff."
  — Host (Carol Massar or Tim Stenovec), 06:43

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:44] — Context: Cyclospora outbreak reaches major US restaurants; markets react.
• [03:07] — Dr. Schaffner on tracing the source and likely end of the outbreak.
• [03:52] — Practical produce safety tips ("wash, peel, or cook it").
• [04:40] — Why foodborne outbreaks are more widespread in today’s global economy.
• [06:00] — This year’s outbreak is "prodigious" and warranted caution.
• [06:43] — Dismissing myths and emphasizing seriousness of infections.
• [07:25] — Legionnaires’ disease: causes and preventive measures in NYC.

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Conclusion

This episode delivers timely, actionable advice and calms public fears by explaining both the specifics of the outbreak and the broader structural causes behind modern foodborne illnesses. Dr. Schaffner’s insights underscore essential food safety habits and clarify when caution is necessary versus when responses may be more emotional than rational. The brief foray into Legionnaires’ disease further highlights how urban infrastructure can influence public health — making this episode a valuable listen for anyone navigating today’s complex food and health environment.

Transcript

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[Bloomberg Host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

Bloomberg Audio Studios Podcasts Radio news.

[Dr. William Schaffner]

You're listening to Bloomberg Businessweek with Carol Massar and Tim Stanovec on Bloomberg Radio.

[Bloomberg Host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

Something, though, that we have been talking about in a very concerned way around the newsroom is this outbreak of a parasite. We've seen some stocks actually move on. I think it was late yesterday. Sweetgreen Yum, owner of Taco Bell Chipotle some movements lower in the trade. This is as US Regulators trace the outbreak of this parasite to a shredded iceberg lettuce that has been served at Taco Bell restaurants and identifying a single supplier as the apparent source. So you said you eat a lot of salads and you stopped eating salads?

[Bloomberg Co-host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

I stopped eating salads and I don't know, is it when can I eat salads again, right? Like I have cilantro. Like is it over?

[Bloomberg Host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

What do you have to be concerned about, Right?

[Bloomberg Co-host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

Yeah, exactly.

[Bloomberg Host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

Well, that's why we thought it's time to talk to a doctor and an expert who knows something about it. If you're worried and kind of who isn't with us. Delighted to have with Emily and myself Dr. William Schaffner. He is a Professor of Preventive medicine in the Department of Health Policy, as well as professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Joining From Nashville, Dr. Schaffner, it is great to have you here with us. We have seen Michigan report over 5,000 infections tied to this parasite. We're worried here in New York. How dangerous is it?

[Dr. William Schaffner]

Well, ladies, it's good to be with you. We seem to be getting to the end of this outbreak because, as you were saying, the CDCs and the state health department disease detectives have implicated shredded iceberg lettuce from a particular supplier who got their lettuce from a particular farm in Mexico as the source of this parasitic infection. So I hope it's coming to an end pretty soon.

[Bloomberg Co-host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

Okay, but just because they've identified one source, does that mean that raspberries, for example, are in the clear, or is there a chance that this had spread from food to food?

[Dr. William Schaffner]

Well, what we know is what we know, and certainly shredded lettuce, which is the sort of produce that has been the source of Cyclospora in the past, has now been implicated. Whether that's the whole story, we're not entirely sure. I still think it's a good idea if you bring produce into the house, we wash it thoroughly, brush it off if you can, and as the saying goes, wash it, peel it, or cook it.

[Bloomberg Host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

All right, I've got a list now of things to do. You know, I do wonder, though, you know, is this happening more frequently or. No, just. Sometimes this just happens when it comes to food production.

[Dr. William Schaffner]

Well, you know, in the United States, we have local food producers, but we also have very large national distribution of food. And so on occasion, when some food item is contaminated that's nationally distributed, you can suddenly get infections that are spread over a wide swath of the country. Back in the old days, 1930s, 40s and 50s, when most of the food was locally grown and used, foodborne outbreaks were more localized. Now that we have widespread national distribution, often from international sources, indeed, you can get foodborne outbreaks that are spread over a much larger geographic area and involve more people.

[Bloomberg Co-host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

It just felt like this one was in the headlines more. I felt like, I mean, usually in the summer, I don't avoid certain fruits and vegetables. This felt scarier than other times. When you hear about a parasite, it almost felt closer to home. Was the fear justified? Did the numbers actually justify, you know, people completely cutting salad out of their diet for two weeks?

[Dr. William Schaffner]

Well, I think certainly in the affected states, the major affected States, there were many cases. This was a large outbreak. Each year, late spring, early summer, we have some cyclosporic cases that occur, but this is prodigious. This is a very large outbreak. And people being cautious about what they eat, avoiding things. You know, we had an early clue that it might be salad. People began avoiding eating lettuce and things like that. That's a prudent thing to do, particularly if you're older, you're frail, you have an underlying illness, you're pregnant, you're immune compromised. Smart. Be careful, right?

[Bloomberg Host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

And don't make jokes about wanting to get this and to lose weight. I've heard so many people say that. I'm like, you really don't want this kind of stuff. Hey, while we have. You just got about a minute and a half or so left here, Dr. Schaffner, I want to ask you about. In New York City, we've also been dealing with Legionnaires bacteria. It was identified in about dozens, dozens of buildings, I should say. And I think what's interesting is at least 46 people have been infected, 22 hospitalized. But it comes after seven people died from it in central Harlem, where more than 100 were infected just about a year ago. So what do we need to understand about this?

[Dr. William Schaffner]

Legionella is a bacteria. It comes to us from water sources. And in urban areas, the air conditioning cooling towers that are on the top of large buildings have been known to be the source. Now, there are regulations in New York that requires every building owner to maintain those air conditioning cooling towers in an appropriate fashion. But maybe that got a little bit lax. And so these air conditioning cooling towers create kind of a spray that can drip down onto the street. It's almost like a mist, and that can contain the bacteria. You inhale it, and as a consequence, you get pneumonia. And it can be tricky to diagnose and treat. So that's why some people, unfortunately, passed away before they could be appropriately treated. But the Health Department has been very vigorous in getting to the. To getting to the source of this, and I think this outbreak is now at an end.

[Bloomberg Host (Possibly Carol Massar or Tim Stanovec)]

All right, that would be good news. It's not been a good couple of weeks or couple of months, certainly here in New York City. But, you know, we know some of this has certainly been impacting people around the country. Dr. Schaffner, have a great weekend. Dr. William Schaffner, professor of Preventive Medicine in the Department of Health Policy, also professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School

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