Rein's Deli Says Lettuce Pause On Particular Food Item

VERNON, CT — An iconic restaurant in Connecticut is taking no chances with certain greens amid nationwide alert over a Cyclospora outbreak.

Rein's Deli is certainly bustling as its popular summertime self, but announced Tuesday evening it is also being cautious.

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"In the interest of safety during this Cyclospora outbreak Rein's Deli has decided to temporarily stop serving spinach salads and eliminate spring mix from our garden salads and chef salads," the announcement said. "We will continue to use non-bagged large green leaf lettuce from California for our sandwiches and platters."

The staff continued, "Please be assured that we thoroughly wash the lettuce prior to using. We will continue to use hydroponic lettuce supplied by Little Leaf Farms of Shirley, MA for our salads. Their whole operation is automated, so there is no human contact with the lettuce. Until we feel it is safe to use spinach and spring mix again, we will continue this course of action. Thank you for your patronage."

Rein's is frequently described by travel writers as a landmark stop along Interstate 84 between New York and Boston. Its own history notes its location as "between N.Y., Boston & Heaven," and it has become synonymous with New York-style Jewish deli food in Connecticut.

Because of its location on the I-84 corridor, Rein's has long been known as a restaurant where touring entertainers, athletes and public figures stop while traveling between New York and Boston. While many celebrity visits have not been extensively documented, local media have characterized the deli as a regular stop for well-known travelers.

Rein's has been featured in numerous "best of Connecticut," "hidden gems," and food destination stories, helping cement its reputation as one of the state's iconic restaurants rather than through fictional portrayals.

With regard to the lettuce, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States is investigating a multi-state outbreak of Cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis.

As of mid-July 2026, the CDC has:

• Received reports of 1,645 laboratory-confirmed domestically acquired cases of cyclosporiasis.
• Been made aware of more than 5,100 total cases under investigation.
• Reported no deaths associated with the outbreak.
• Confirmed that more than 100 people have been hospitalized.

The CDC, working with state health departments and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is investigating multiple clusters of illness to identify contaminated food sources.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects the small intestine. People become infected by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the parasite. The illness is not usually spread directly from person to person because the parasite must mature in the environment before it becomes infectious.

Symptoms generally begin about one week after exposure, although they can appear anywhere from two days to two weeks later. Common symptoms include:

• Frequent, watery diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Stomach cramps
• Bloating
• Increased gas
• Nausea
• Fatigue

Some people also experience vomiting, body aches, headache or a low-grade fever. Without treatment, symptoms can last from several days to a month or longer and may come and go.

The CDC recommends that people with symptoms contact a healthcare provider. Cyclosporiasis can be treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX).