Iceberg Lettuce Makes People Sick
There is a big food alert today. Iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms has a germ. The germ is Cyclospora. It makes 1,947 people sick in nine states. At least 98 people are in hospital beds. Do not eat this lettuce. Return the lettuce or put it in the trash.
Today is July 24, 2026. The CDC has a food alert. The alert is about iceberg lettuce. This lettuce is from Taylor Farms. The company is in Mexico. The lettuce has a germ. The name of the germ is Cyclospora. Cyclospora makes people very sick.
There is a big outbreak. Now, many people are sick. There are 1,947 sick people. At least 98 people are in hospital beds. Zero sick people die from this.
There are nine states with cases. Four states are new today. Illinois is a new state. Kansas is a new state. Oklahoma is a new state. Pennsylvania is a new state. These states are new since July 18. Indiana and Kentucky also have cases. Michigan and Ohio also have cases. West Virginia has sick people too.
Do not eat this lettuce. Do not keep this lettuce. Return the bad lettuce now. Put the lettuce in the trash.
Some people do not feel sick. Other people have watery diarrhea. They also lose their appetite. These people can lose weight. The illness starts in one week. It lasts for one month.
Drink a lot of water. Call your doctor for help. Ask for a medical test. The doctor tests for Cyclospora.
The CDC counts only lab cases. Other illnesses are not in this count. This number is only for Taylor Farms.
The CDC studies other outbreaks. Those outbreaks are not related. They are different food problems.
Call your state health department. They have information for you. They help with your questions.
CDC experts protect your life. They respond to many diseases. They give helpful information to people.
Reporters use a special form. Reporters send questions to the CDC. The CDC Media Branch answers them.
Take a position. Out loud, if you can.
Four ways to start. Pick one and try saying it before you scroll on.
Tip · Record yourself, use in a notebook, or practice with a language partner.
Where is the bad iceberg lettuce from?
Imperative Verbs
Imperative verbs are used to give commands, instructions, or advice directly. They do not need a subject pronoun like 'you'.
“Do not eat this lettuce.”
What to know · A1
Try saying this aloud
Scenario: Warning a friend about bad food in their kitchen
- 01“Do not eat this lettuce.”
- 02“Put the lettuce in the trash.”
- 03“Call your doctor for help.”
Register tip · informal
🔑Key Phrases
This is a direct instruction to avoid eating the bad lettuce.
Do not eat this lettuce because it is bad.
Used to describe a widespread illness situation.
There is a big outbreak of flu in our town.
This is a simple way to advise someone to seek medical care.
If you have a fever, call your doctor for help.
Article Audio — Kokoro TTS
Iceberg Lettuce Makes People Sick
💬Discussion Questions
Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.
- 1
What is your favorite vegetable and why do you like it?
Personal - 2
Why is it important to wash our food before we eat it?
Opinion - 3
How do you feel when you are sick, and what makes you feel better?
Personal - 4
Do you prefer eating food at home or at a restaurant?
Compare - 5
What can a family do to stay healthy every day?
Opinion - 6
What will happen if we do not listen to health warnings?
Predict - 7
Who is the most important person to call when you are sick?
Evaluate - 8
How do you choose which fresh foods to buy at the store?
Personal
News sourced from: CDC Newsroom →. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.
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