--- title: Contaminated Mexican Cilantro Sickens Hundreds in the U.S. description: Cyclosporiasis, a parasitical stomach ailment, has affected more than 380 people who consumed the contaminated herb. canonical: https://time.com/3985050/cilantro-mexico-sick-coriander-cyclosporiasis/ author: Joanna Plucinska article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-08-05T08:57:10.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:02:10.157Z article:section: Health og:title: Contaminated Mexican Cilantro Sickens Hundreds Across U.S. og:description: This is the fourth time in as many years og:url: https://time.com/3985050/cilantro-mexico-sick-coriander-cyclosporiasis/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltec5578e0791ebe0c/69885def5f570fee00b1cc46/145095950.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: 145095950 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Contaminated Mexican Cilantro Sickens Hundreds Across U.S. twitter:description: This is the fourth time in as many years twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltec5578e0791ebe0c/69885def5f570fee00b1cc46/145095950.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Contaminated Mexican Cilantro Sickens Hundreds Across the U.S. by [Joanna Plucinska](/author/joanna-plucinska/) ## Joanna Plucinska Aug 5, 2015 8:57 AM CUT  Close Up Of Cilantro, Also Known As Coriander And Chinese Parsley Close Up Of Cilantro, Also Known As Coriander And Chinese ParsleyEducation Images/UIG—Getty Images/Universal Images Group by [Joanna Plucinska](/author/joanna-plucinska/) ## Joanna Plucinska Aug 5, 2015 8:57 AM CUT Cyclosporiasis, a painful and uncomfortable parasitical stomach ailment, has affected more than 380 people in 26 states after a batch of Mexican cilantro was found to be contaminated with human waste, the Centers for Disease Control and FDA says. According to the two federal agencies, the outbreak began on May 1 and is likely caused by “contact with the parasite shed from the intestinal tract of humans” in the fields where contaminated cilantro plants were grown in Mexico’s Puebla state, al-Jazeera America [reports](http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/8/4/cilantro-linked-infection-sickens-hundreds.html?utm%5Fcontent=nobylines&utm%5Fcampaign=ajam&utm%5Fsource=twitter&utm%5Fmedium=SocialFlow "undefined"). The news comes after the FDA placed a [partial ban](http://time.com/3974244/cilantro-feces/ "undefined") on cilantro from the region in late July. Authorities investigated up to 11 farms and found toilet paper and feces in many of the fields. They also found that many of these farms lacked adequate toilet facilities, AJAM says. According to AJAM, it’s not the first time cilantro from Mexico’s Puebla state has caused widespread illness. The herb has been linked to outbreaks of the stomach condition in 2012, 2013 and 2014 as well. \[[_AJAM_](http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/8/4/cilantro-linked-infection-sickens-hundreds.html?utm%5Fcontent=nobylines&utm%5Fcampaign=ajam&utm%5Fsource=twitter&utm%5Fmedium=SocialFlow "undefined")\] ### You Asked: Your Top 10 Health Questions Answered  You Asked: Are Cleanses Healthy? Potions that claim to clear your body of toxins might sound alluring, but do they deliver? Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: Is Eating Dessert Really That Bad For Me? Bad news for sweet-eaters—except if you end your meals with this kind of treat. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: What’s the Best Way to Whiten My Teeth? Yes, teeth whitening actually works—but here's why you have to dish out major bucks to see results. Illustration by Peter Oumanski for TIME  You Asked: Is Meditation Really Worth It? 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