Tennessee food critic Christina Hart says a parasite left her sick for weeks and forced her to stop working.
Quick Take
- Christina Hart says doctors confirmed she had cyclosporiasis after days of worsening stomach trouble.
- The illness caused severe bathroom urgency, major weight loss, and a pause in her food reviews.
- Hart said she first thought it was food poisoning or a stomach virus before testing positive.
- Reports in this packet say cyclosporiasis is linked to contaminated produce, but Hart did not know the exact source.
Hart Says the Illness Hit Fast and Hard
Christina Hart, a 29-year-old Tennessee food reviewer, said cyclosporiasis knocked her out of work and left her battling nonstop stomach pain, urgent bathroom trips, and weeks of misery. USA Today reported that Hart tested positive after she sought medical care, and she later described the experience as “just miserable.” The reporting also says she lost 17 pounds and felt scared to leave home because of the illness.
Hart told WSMV that her symptoms began like food poisoning or a stomach virus, but the problem kept getting worse instead of fading. She said she ran to the bathroom about every 30 minutes during the first week, then went to a doctor after the symptoms would not stop. The doctor ran tests, and Hart said the results confirmed cyclosporiasis.
Produce Links to the Parasite, but the Exact Source Is Unclear
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite, and the reports in this packet describe it as tied to produce. The New York Times noted that the parasite can hide in lettuce, broccoli, berries, and other fresh foods. FOX 17 reported that Hart believed she may have gotten sick from contaminated iceberg lettuce, but the same report also said she did not know exactly where she picked it up.
That detail matters because public reports often move faster than traceback evidence. Hart’s case fits that pattern. The packet shows a real diagnosis, a real illness, and a real disruption to her work, but it does not show a confirmed source for her individual infection. In other words, produce is the likely general risk, yet the specific item remains uncertain in the reporting available here.
Her Work as a Food Reviewer Took a Hit
Hart said the illness disrupted the business she was building on social media. WSMV reported that she had to push back episodes and stop working while she recovered. FOX 17 reported that her growing business was paused during the illness, and Hart said it “stopped my whole life.” The reports also say she needed about three weeks before she started feeling better, with some symptoms lingering after that point.
Tennessee-based TikTok food reviewer Christina Hart shares her experience with cyclosporiasis, and how it impacted her account. https://t.co/gJwLRHHdE1
— USA TODAY Entertainment (@usatodayent) August 7, 2026
Hart’s story has spread widely because it combines a personal health scare with a larger food-safety concern that many Americans already understand. The reports in this packet say cyclosporiasis can cause watery, sometimes explosive diarrhea, along with cramps, bloating, nausea, and weight loss. For readers who have watched grocery prices rise and trust in the food supply slide, the case is another reminder that clean, safe produce still matters.
Sources:
nypost.com, nytimes.com, fox17.com, kyma.com, blackenterprise.com
