LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Health officials have identified shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations as the source of a large Cyclospora outbreak affecting multiple states.
The CDC and FDA have tied the parasite to lettuce served at restaurants in Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. More than 1,600 cases have been confirmed since May 1, with thousands more under review. Doctors said the illness can be more serious for people with weakened immune systems, though most healthy people experience diarrhea and nausea.
MORE ON FOX5: Lettuce from Taco Bell locations in these 5 states confirmed as a source of diarrhea-causing parasite
No cases have been reported in Nevada.
Local farmers market manager weighs in
Jasmine Kurys, who works with both a local farmers market and a national grocer, said consumers do not need to stop buying fresh produce but should know how to handle it safely.
“It’s a parasite that is affecting people’s GI tracts and causing diarrhea to an extent that they can’t stay hydrated,” Kurys said.
Kurys said the threat is specific to a particular type of product.
“This is a parasite you cannot clean off of your fruits and vegetables. So no amount of cleaning or scrubbing is going to keep you safe from this particular parasite,” she said. “It came from pre-packaged, pre-chopped produce. Not all produce.”
Farmers market manager encourages local sourcing
Kurys said her biggest concern is consumers abandoning fresh produce altogether. She said the farmers she works with can explain exactly how they grow, harvest, clean, and prepare their products.
“The farmers want people to understand that local or smaller, ethically run practices are not the same as factory-produced products,” Kurys said.
She said additional steps in the supply chain increase risk.
“Each level you add to travel is just one more level of potential contamination or longer time for bacteria to grow and develop,” she said.
Kurys encouraged shoppers to source food as locally as possible.
“The reality is something’s always going to happen. So prepare yourself by going as local as you can, as often as you can,” she said.
Kurys oversees the Bruce Trent Farmers Market, which hosts dozens of local growers and farmers every Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. Other farmers’ markets are available across the valley.
CDC recommendations for handling fresh produce
The CDC released the following recommendations to reduce the risk of foodborne illness related to fresh produce:
Wash
- Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.
Prepare
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking.
- Wash produce thoroughly, even if it is labeled as pre-washed.
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
- Cooking can kill the parasite. Since washing alone cannot guarantee the parasite’s removal, cook produce to a temperature of at least 158°F (70°C).
Store
- Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible, within two hours.
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