Why are raw veggies making us sick?

Americans typically eat the most fresh fruits and vegetables during summer. But this year many left the bright array of berries and rich leafy greens on supermarket shelves due to an explosion in cases of a gastrointestinal infection known as cyclosporiasis. About 40% of Americans are buying and eating less produce according to a CBS News survey of 2,193 U.S. adults in late July. The United States has weathered minor outbreaks of the microscopic parasite before, but cases hit a record high this year. So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded at least 4,173 laboratory-confirmed cases since May 1, with more than 7,400 cases still awaiting confirmation.

How do you contract cyclosporiasis? Cyclospora, a parasite only visible under a microscope, causes the illness. Individuals are most likely to become infected with the tiny parasite if they consume fresh produce irrigated with water contaminated with human feces. The parasite infects the small intestine, causing watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and flu symptoms in some cases. Cyclosporiasis is not passed directly from person to person.

What do we know about the source of the outbreak? The Food and Drug Administration initially connected the illness to iceberg lettuce grown at Taylor Farms in central Mexico. The grower announced it would recall iceberg lettuce sourced in the region from U.S. markets, which include products sold under the Marketside brand at Walmart. Nine states reported cyclosporiasis cases linked to Taco Bell restaurants using the contaminated lettuce. But a few days after unveiling its initial findings, the FDA backtracked, admitting it had re-reviewed samples from the Mexican farm that had falsely tested positive for the parasite. Mexican health officials say their tests have not found any evidence of cyclospora. Taylor Farms continued its recall, though the FDA and other public health officials are still investigating the source.

Where are you most at risk? Health officials have confirmed outbreaks in nine primary states: Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. But cases have been reported in at least 41 states. As of late July, officials had recorded between 900 to 1,200 of the 4,100 confirmed cases in Michigan, with southeast Michigan bearing the brunt. It can take up to six weeks to determine whether a sick individual is a part of the outbreak. Symptoms typically appear a few days after infection, so the number of cases likely will climb through early September. At the end of July, the FDA reported another cyclosporiasis outbreak in North Carolina tentatively linked to unspecified cilantro, parsley, and lettuce products.

What fruits and vegetables are still safe to eat? Most fruits and vegetables can be consumed safely if washed or cooked properly, a CDC information page pointed out. Vegetables and fruits with rinds and skins such as cucumbers, sweet potatoes, watermelons, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, and oranges are easier to clean and undergo less handling than bagged salad, leafy herbs, and berries. Another strategy: Buy your produce from local farms. Experts say this could help prevent opportunities for contamination since produce grown in other countries may be more likely to be exposed to water containing cyclospora.