If you haven't heard (but you probably have, especially if you're a parent), there's been a surging outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the United States, with more than 30 states reporting infections from the heat-loving parasite called cyclospora.
If that hasn't rung a bell yet, cyclospora is the microscopic parasite that can cause explosive diarrhea that can continue for weeks if left untreated.
I don't think anybody wants that, in general, but especially when there's a risk that your children can get it and you're left to clean up the mess.
Cyclosporiasis outbreaks occur most often toward the end of spring and into summertime, but there's been an unprecedented number of cases in the U.S. in 2026.
While the Public Health Agency of Canada isn't currently investigating any cyclospora outbreaks in Canada, infections can crop up in Canada from consuming fresh fruit and vegetables that have been imported from other countries.
The illness is less common than foodborne illnesses caused by germs like, say, salmonella and E. coli, but with there being an outbreak this summer, it's definitely something that should be on any parent's radar.
...it's definitely something that should be on any parent's radar.
While the illness isn't normally life threatening and is usually treated with antibiotics, it can be spread easily when you consume fruits or vegetables that have been exposed to feces-contaminated irrigation water because it's incredibly difficult to fully remove the parasite from food items.
If you have a set of twins at home, the idea of dealing with explosive diarrhea times two is likely daunting enough to make you do the research into how to avoid this frightening fate in your household.
Healthy snacks to feed your toddlers amid a parasite outbreak
When there's a parasite outbreak going on and you want to make sure your toddlers have something healthy to snack on, but you're unsure which items could be contaminated, it can make you want to avoid any fresh produce, just to be on the safe side.
But you don't have to avoid absolutely everything fresh.
But you don't have to avoid absolutely everything fresh.
While the cause is suspected to be lettuce, it's still unknown for sure, and the parasite could be linked to fresh berries, like raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries, which, as any parent knows, is basically what toddlers live off of, sometimes.
As mentioned earlier, it's super hard to ensure you're removing the parasite from food items when you wash them, and freezing the berries won't kill the parasite, either.
The only way to completely kill this parasite is by heating the produce to an internal temperature of 165° F (74° C).
Until the cause is known for sure, it's best to avoid the suspected produce in question, including berries, unless you like dealing with explosive diarrhea in not one but TWO tiny toddlers.
Instead of your usual snacktime staples, think about fruits and vegetables you can wash and then peel to remove the skin, like:
- Apples
- Bananas
- Cantaloupe
- Cucumbers
- Nectarines
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Watermelon
These are alternative items that will help make sure your toddlers have healthy options when there's a parasite outbreak, like cyclospora, and it's not necessarily safe to have their regular everyday snacks on-hand.
If your toddlers aren't keen on trying fruits they might not be used to having, just tell them they aren't allowed to have any, and they'll be helping you prep them for snacktime in no time.
What are your go-to snacks when your usual snacktime staples aren't an option? Let us know in the Comments section below or connect with us on Instagram to share your thoughts!
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