Taylor Farms has issued a voluntary recall of different shredded lettuce products in the midst of the multi-state Cyclospora outbreak. However, it is not completely clear yet what the true source or sources of the outbreak may be and whether the outbreak has actually been contained. (Photo by Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)
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“Lettuce” be clear about this. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not yet determined for sure the source of the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak. And despite U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claiming on Tuesday, “We do have the outbreak under control,” it still makes sense to take appropriate precautions until more definitive proof of such control is provided.
It’s Not Clear Whether The Number Of New Cyclospora Cases Is Going Down Yet
That’s because it’s not clear yet whether the rate of new cyclosporiasis cases has actually slowed. You can’t solely rely on the CDC Cyclospora outbreak website, which as of late July 21, early July 22 hadn’t been updated since July 18—still showing the 1,644 case number from last week. Plus, if you add up cases from different state department of health websites, you will get significantly higher numbers. For example, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has already reported a whopping 6,571 cases, while Ohio has reported at least 1,244, Indiana 511, West Virginia 195 and Kentucky 192.
Moreover, the incubation period for a Cyclospora infection can range from two days to 14 days or even longer, as I’ve covered before in Forbes. No one knows how many people are currently walking around not realizing that they are carrying the Cyclospora cayetanensis parasite in their gastrointestinal tracts. These people don’t yet know that over the next two weeks or so they will begin experiencing loss of appetite, bloating, burping, farting, low-grade fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and the often explosive diarrhea that can come with cyclosporiasis.
It’s not ideal to claim that a Cyclospora outbreak is under control until the new case count is close enough to zero and enough time has passed that you are more certain that a burst of new cases won’t emerge. Otherwise, such an announcement may give misleading assurances to the public. The risk of being a false source of assurance is more pronounced until the actual source of the outbreak has been clearly identified and contained.
It’s Not Yet Clear Whether Taylor Farms Shredded Lettuce Is The Source—Or The Only Source
That brings us to the current FDA and CDC investigation of the outbreak and what we currently know and don’t know about it. While the FDA had initially reported that shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms had tested positive for the Cyclospora parasite, this subsequently turned out to be a false positive. That positive test did trigger Taylor Farms to voluntarily recall shredded iceberg lettuce from 27 states. But even if this product did contain such parasites, there is always the possibility that this is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Say, for example, the parasites ended up in the lettuce at a farm or farms through contact with contaminated water or fertilizer. Then, any other produce that had come into contact with such a contaminated source could be at risk too.
This Cyclospora outbreak is occurring after the Trump administration made significant cuts in CDC and FDA funding and personnel, including specifically to foodborne illness prevention and control programs. The FDA and CDC have experienced continuing shifts in leadership over the year and a half that Donald Trump has been U.S. President as well. In fact, both agencies currently lack permanent leaders. Moreover, the CDC investigation notice about the outbreak lacks details on what specifically is being done now. I have reached out to contacts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to get more clarity on such things and will provide updates accordingly.
Precautions To Take Until The Cyclospora Outbreak Is Truly Over
Therefore, you may want to remain cautious about any food that may have been affected by the outbreak. That certainly includes checking the Taylor Farms recall notice and identifying whether you have any lettuce that is part of the product recall list. If you do find a product on the list, return or discard it immediately. And discarding the lettuce doesn’t mean feeding it to your least favorite friend.
It may be difficult to tell where restaurants or other types of eateries may have gotten their lettuce. So before consuming any lettuce-containing dishes or products from any establishment, you may want to ask the management directly about such sources. Don’t assume that a given place is aware of and has heeded the recall.
The big question is what to do about lettuce—and other types of fruits and vegetables—from other sources besides Taylor Farms. The current FDA and CDC situation does make it more difficult for American consumers to know specifically what to do.
Thoroughly washing or peeling any fresh fruits and veggies before consuming them is always a good idea, regardless of whether there is a Cyclospora outbreak. Using a vinegar wash won’t kill the parasite, but it could help dislodge any parasite so that it’s easier to wash them off of the food. Keep in mind, though, that washing won’t necessarily remove all of the parasites from fruits and vegetables.
If you want to be more sure, you can cook all fruits and vegetables that aren’t protected by peels to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit, which would correspond to 70 degrees Celsius. That temperature is high enough to kill the parasites. A food thermometer can help ensure that the requisite temperature is reached.
Additionally, before and after handling any uncooked fruits or vegetables, make sure that you thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. Also, thoroughly clean all surfaces, dishes, utensils or other equipment that the uncooked food may have touched. Otherwise, the parasite could end up contaminating other things that you put into your mouth.
If you do suspect that you have cyclosporiasis, contact your doctor as soon as possible. A course of antibiotics—usually trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for 10 days—can kill the Cyclospora and shorten the duration of your illness. Otherwise, the symptoms like diarrhea could last for weeks and even months. It’s also important to stay well-hydrated because diarrhea, especially explosive diarrhea, can lead to a lot of fluid loss.
It is probably frustrating to be unsure whether you can eat various fruits and vegetables without cooking them. But that’s what happens when a large Cyclospora outbreak occurs and the source is not yet clearly identified and contained. And it’s not clear where the FDA and CDC investigation specifically is right now.