As cyclospora sickens thousands in U.S., Montreal shoppers turn to local produce
By Kalina Laframboise July 16, 2026 at 5:00 a.m. Last Updated: July 16, 2026 at 2:19 p.m.
Berries on sale at the Atwater Market in Montreal on Wednesday. An outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the United States has concerned some consumers, though local markets sell mainly Canadian produce. (John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette)
With an outbreak of a diarrhea-inducing parasite in the United States and a higher number of cases in Quebec than usual, some locals and tourists in Montreal are changing their habits when it comes to buying food.
Karey Trubiano and Krista Goyens said not only have they both heard of cyclospora and the rash of cases reported in the U.S., they are trying to stick to purchasing local fruits and vegetables.
“I’m thankful that we’ve been growing a couple of things at home, like raspberries,” Goyens said of her Montreal home in an interview Wednesday afternoon at the Jean-Talon Market.
“Everyone is kind of stressed, so I’m happy that we have options in case things do end up coming here.”
What she finds concerning is the severity of the intestinal illness, which can last weeks and requires antibiotics. “It’s not just a cold. You’re not just going to get over it.”
Cyclospora’s unwelcome presence in the U.S. has made Trubiano “pay more attention to labels on where I’m getting my fruits and vegetables.”
“Are they from Quebec? Is it from Canada or is it coming from the States? It’s made me kind of pay more attention to that and maybe made me more wary of buying produce from the States,” Trubiano said.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite cyclospora, and people can become infected by consuming food or water that contains it. Symptoms include watery or explosive diarrhea, loss of appetite, bloating, cramping, fatigue and weight loss. The illness is “not usually life-threatening,” but some people “can become very ill and require hospitalization,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of July 11, Quebec health authorities had reported 107 cases of cyclosporiasis since the beginning of the year, higher than the tally of 30 for the same period last year. The Health Ministry recorded an average of 32 cases for the same time frame between 2022 and 2025.
While the ministry is monitoring the situation, it says the majority of cases in Quebec “appear to be linked to travel exposure, primarily to Mexico.” Fewer than five cases have reported U.S. travel.
None of the cases in the province appear to be linked to the ongoing outbreak in Michigan, where thousands have been sickened. As of Thursday, the state’s health authority had recorded 4,312 cases and 102 hospitalizations.
“While the investigation is ongoing, available information indicates that lettuce or salad greens may be a potential source of this outbreak. However, other food items cannot be completely ruled out. No specific type of produce, grower or supplier has been identified as the source,” the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said on its website.
The current situation in Quebec, the ministry said earlier this week, is “nowhere near the scale of the outbreak reported in the state of Michigan.” The Public Health Agency of Canada has also said it is not currently investigating any outbreaks in the country.
Some shoppers who spoke briefly to The Gazette said they had never heard of the illness, and many merchants at the Jean-Talon Market confirmed they were aware of the parasite, but hadn’t heard any concerns from customers because they sell locally grown food.
One worker at the public market, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the subject, mentioned a client recently asked if their produce was local because they were worried about contracting cyclospora.
Shab Poloz, who was visiting Montreal from Chicago with her husband and daughter, explained that with the outbreak of cyclosporiasis in their country, they have been avoiding greens and salad kits — items they say they usually get — to stave off potential risks.
While they weren’t as concerned about Canadian produce, Poloz said they decided to play it safe while out and about in Montreal.
“We were just out and we were thinking: Should we get a Caesar salad? I was like: ‘Better not. Let’s stay away from it,’” she said.
Her husband, Dan Poloz, first heard about the situation in Michigan a few weeks ago on the news. Since then, he said, the family has taken “more precaution in terms of what we purchase, how we handle it, and then how we prepare it.”
Montrealer Samantha Smith admitted she washed her spinach “a bit more thoroughly” on Tuesday and said she was aware of what is happening in the U.S., but that she wasn’t too concerned. She said she mostly gets her produce locally from Lufa Farms.
“I wouldn’t want it, but I’m not too stressed,” she said of cyclosporiasis.
Asked if she had concerns about travelling to the U.S., Smith cheekily replied: “I think there are other things keeping me from the States than that.”
Vancouver resident Yuvraj Solanki said that he had been in Montreal for the past week on vacation, but that he heard of the parasite.
“I was definitely thinking that when I get back, I might avoid buying U.S. produce just to be safe,” he said.
