Jalapeños are the latest food item linked to illness. (Bryan Pollard/stock.adobe.com)
By Cindy Krischer Goodman | cgoodman@sunsentinel.com | South Florida Sun Sentinel
PUBLISHED: August 7, 2026 at 5:32 PM EDT
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This summer has been particularly tough for foodborne illnesses, with reports of explosive diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, hospitalizations, and even deaths.
Not all reported outbreaks have reached Florida, but as federal agencies investigate cases of salmonella, E. coli and cyclosporiasis, some foods are worth avoiding for now.
Here are the ones Floridians should know about.
Iceberg lettuce
A large multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis has been tied to iceberg lettuce sold at restaurants such as Taco Bell and some grocery stores. Cyclosporiasis is caused by a microscopic parasite that contaminates food or water.
Taylor Farms, a major food supplier, has issued a recall of iceberg lettuce and bagged salads sourced from Mexico. The recalled products include Walmart’s Marketside brand of shredded iceberg lettuce and iceberg salad. Both have “best if used by” dates of July 18 through Aug. 3. “We have also voluntarily suspended all iceberg lettuce sourcing and production from central Mexico,” the company said on its website.
Despite the recall for certain batches of lettuce, people are still getting sick. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : “We expect to continue to see the number of confirmed cases rise, despite the recall, due to the fact that it can take as long as six weeks for CDC and state officials to determine if a sick person is part of this outbreak.”
As of Aug. 1, Florida has 352 reported cases of cyclosporiasis in 2026, with 101 in South Florida, state health data shows.
The most common symptoms include frequent watery and explosive diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue. Less common symptoms include low-grade fever and vomiting, according to the CDC. While more than 400 people have been hospitalized from cyclosporiasis, the two deaths that occurred from this outbreak involved individuals who had “significant underlying health conditions,” authorities said.
Washing lettuce with cold water helps lower surface dirt and germs, but it cannot fully remove the cyclospora parasite. Remove the outer two or three layers of a head of lettuce before washing.
Publix recalled GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries on July 3. (David J. Neal/Miami Herald/TNS)
Frozen blueberries and mixed berries
Floridians are getting sick from E. coli contamination linked to frozen blueberries.
On July 3, Publix recalled GreenWise Organic Frozen Whole Blueberries, and it has now extended its recall to include GreenWise Organic Whole Mixed Berries. Affected sizes include 10-ounce and 48-ounce bags sold in Florida and seven other states. The specific initial lot tied to the outbreak is Lot Code 60401 with a best-by date of Feb. 9, 2028.
“Consumers who have frozen GreenWise blueberry products with the affected lot date should not consume them. The product should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase for a full refund,” Publix said in its recall alert.
The recalls come after consumers who ate the berries reported symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and/or vomiting. Four people have been hospitalized.
“If you froze a product without the original packaging and can’t tell if it’s part of the recall, throw it away,” the FDA added.
The berries under scrutiny were imported from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A., of San Carlos, Chile.
Snack mixes
Check your pantry for John B. Sanfilippo & Son-produced snack mixes. Several mixes sold online and in retail stores have been recalled due to concerns about salmonella.
You will want to carefully check the brands produced by that manufacturer. These include Good & Gather Mexican Street Corn Trail Mix sold at Target, as well as Fisher Tex Mex Trail Mix, Southern Style Nuts Gourmet Hunter Mix and Squirrel Brand Traveler’s Mix.
The Food and Drug Administration advises consumers to throw away, return, or avoid eating the snack mixes.
Thus far, no illnesses have been reported in connection with these recalled products. Anyone with questions about the recall can contact the manufacturer at 800-874-8734.
Nut butter
Walmart has recalled its Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter sold in 19 states, including Florida, because of potential salmonella contamination,
The recalled nut butter was manufactured by Gustibus Alimentari in Italy, imported by Botticelli Foods and distributed exclusively by Walmart, according to the recall report.
Botticelli Foods initiated the recall on July 17 after Walmart learned that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services had tested three jars of the product at a store and found salmonella. The testing was part of a routine inspection.
The Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter was sold in 6.7-ounce glass jars with the UPC code 194346207961. The lot code is LB028ACP04 with an expiration date of Jan. 28, 2027, according to the FDA.
Anyone who purchased the recalled nut butter should not consume it and return it for a full refund. Questions about this recall can be emailed to quality@botticellifoods.com.
Cheeses
Check your refrigerators and freezers for all types of cheese made by Clover Hill Dairy. The recalled cheeses pose a risk of Listeria monocytogenes infections and have been linked to eight hospitalizations and one death, according to the FDA. Included in the recall are Salvadoran and Mexican cottage cheeses under the brand names La Colonia and Selectos Latinos. The cottage cheese was also sold in bulk and could have been repackaged under the brand names Kesso, Quesos La Ricura, Izalco, De Mi Pueblo, and Rio Lindo.
Clover Hill Dairy cheeses were distributed in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C., from May 4 through May 30, 2026, and federal officials say they may have been sold in other states as well.
Symptoms usually start within two weeks of eating food contaminated with Listeria, but may develop as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after. Mild symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, tiredness, vomiting and diarrhea. If the more severe form of listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, according to the CDC.
Jalapeño peppers
Jalapeños served at Chipotle and QDOBA were just recalled nationwide. The spicy peppers, which may be contaminated with salmonella, have been linked to a major outbreak across 27 states that includes 36 hospitalizations. Florida is not one of the 27 states — yet.
The recall affects jalapeño peppers grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors.
Consumers started to become ill from jalapeños beginning on dates ranging from June 19 to July 20.
Chipotle said it replaced jalapeños at its restaurants nationwide, including in Florida, with product from different growers. In addition, the FDA has asked distributors, restaurants and food service companies in all states that have fresh jalapeños from Sinaloa, Mexico, imported by Coast Citrus Distributors, not to sell or serve them.
While it’s unlikely that the jalapeños were sold directly to consumers at the grocery store, health officials are still urging people who ate jalapeños to watch for symptoms.
Salmonella symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, and usually develop 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food, according to the CDC website. Symptoms usually start six hours to six days after infection and usually last four to seven days. Certain people — including children younger than 5, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems — are more likely to develop serious infections.
What to do
You can report your illness directly to the Florida Department of Health or Florida Department of Agriculture using their online submission forms.
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