Cyclospora Outbreak: 8 Foods to Avoid Right Now

Cyclospora Outbreak Has People Rethinking What’s on Their Plate

If you’ve been grabbing a salad, fresh fruit, or a veggie tray lately, you may want to pay a little closer attention.

A growing Cyclospora outbreak has health officials warning people about certain raw produce.

Over 11,000 cases across multiple states have been linked to iceberg lettuce, and smaller outbreaks have also been connected to parsley and cilantro.

The outbreak has caused people to change their eating habits. 4 out of 10 people are buying or eating less fresh produce because they're worried about the parasite, according to a CBS News poll.

bunch of vegetables — Photo by nrd on Unsplash

Foods You May Want to Avoid Right Now

Experts say these foods have been linked to past Cyclospora outbreaks or may carry a higher risk because they’re often eaten without cooking:

Bagged lettuce and pre-washed salad mixes — multiple farms can contribute to one package, increasing the chance that contamination could spread.
Leafy greens — including lettuce, spinach, and other greens that grow close to the ground.
Fresh herbs — especially cilantro and basil, which are often eaten raw.
Pre-cut fruits and vegetables — cutting exposes more surface area and can allow contamination to spread.
Raspberries — their delicate texture and tiny crevices make them difficult to wash fully.
Snow peas and sugar snap peas — their shape can allow contamination to hide.
Mangoes — the outside skin can potentially transfer contamination when cut.
Raw onions — especially because they’re often eaten without cooking.

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That doesn’t mean you have to swear off produce forever.

The FDA recommends washing fresh fruits and vegetables under running water, removing outer layers of leafy greens when possible, avoiding cross-contamination in the kitchen, and cooking produce when you can.

Washing helps, but it may not completely remove Cyclospora.

a person is washing raspberries in a sink — Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash

What About Farmers Markets?

With the outbreak making headlines, some shoppers are turning to local farmers markets, thinking fresh and local may be safer.

The important thing to remember is that Cyclospora is linked to contaminated food or water, so proper handling and washing are still important no matter where your produce comes from.

Wash Before You Toss

Before you toss that salad or avoid the produce aisle completely, just be a little smarter about what you buy, how you wash it, and what you eat raw.

A few extra steps could help keep your summer meals a lot more enjoyable and cut down your trips to the bathroom.

Room Temperature Produce

One cut or peeled, these should be refrigerated. They can also be kept in the fridge to maintain a certain level of ripeness or slow down the ripening process.