Consumer Reports Urges Produce-Washing After 2 Deaths in Lettuce-Linked Cyclosporiasis Outbreak
Updated
Updated · WJXT News4JAX · Aug 18
Consumer Reports Urges Produce-Washing After 2 Deaths in Lettuce-Linked Cyclosporiasis Outbreak
3 articles · Updated · WJXT News4JAX · Aug 18
Summary
Thousands of people have fallen ill and two have died in a cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce processed at a Taylor Farms facility in central Mexico, prompting Consumer Reports to issue food-safety guidance.
The CDC says recalled products are now past their best-by dates and should no longer be in stores or restaurants, and Consumer Reports says there is no evidence consumers need to avoid lettuce or salad greens broadly.
Cold running water, handwashing and cleaning cutting boards can reduce parasite contamination on produce, though washing cannot remove it completely; cooking produce to at least 158F is the most effective way to kill the parasite.
Raw produce such as melons and cucumbers should be scrubbed or peeled before slicing to keep surface contamination from transferring inside, a precaution Consumer Reports says matters because large-scale international supply chains can spread contamination widely.