Health officials weigh in on whether it’s safe to eat lettuce

(NewsNation) — As U.S. agencies and health officials search for the source of the cyclospora outbreak that has wreaked havoc on thousands of stomachs nationwide, Americans want to know — should I avoid eating lettuce right now?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has walked back recent remarks that Taylor Farms is the source of the cyclospora outbreak after the agency announced Sunday it received a false-positive test result when sampling the company’s lettuce. Even so, the FDA says it doesn’t change an ongoing recall of its products.

“To clarify, this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms,” said the FDA in a statement Monday.

The FDA added its data continues to “converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico.”

The lettuce is the first to be linked to the parasite that causes cyclosporiasis. People usually become infected after consuming food or water contaminated with feces. Symptoms usually occur within two to 14 days after ingestion.

While cyclosporiasis is not usually life-threatening, people can experience severe symptoms, including cramps, nausea, fatigue and vomiting. The most commonly reported symptom is “watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What should I do about the recalled product?

Anyone, including restaurants and retailers, who has any of the recalled Taylor Farms lettuce should throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. The FDA also recommends cleaning any refrigerator shelves, containers or surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled product.

The CDC also warns against eating the recalled lettuce at any Taco Bell location or other restaurants that may have purchased it. If you don’t know the source of the lettuce you’re ordering, ask the restaurant.

Still want to eat lettuce?

If you still want a summer salad, most lettuce products are safe to eat, and there are ways to reduce your risk of contracting cyclospora.

Health officials recommend avoiding bagged lettuce and salad mixes. However, if you’re still going to eat bagged lettuce or mixes, you should wash them, even if they say they’ve been prewashed.

“This is a very hard parasite to get off by washing,” said Dr. Robert Redfield, former director of the CDC, speaking on “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” on Friday. “It’s very sticky. … So it’s a tough one to get rid of.”

Officials say whole heads of lettuce are the best option and that only the inner leaves should be eaten after washing them at least three times.

“The studies we’ve done on lettuce contamination show that …none of the viruses, bacteria, parasites get past the first outer leaves, from what we’ve seen,” Dr. Chuck Gerba, a microbiologist and professor of virology at the University of Arizona, told TODAY.com. “I feel safe just taking the outer leaves off of a head of lettuce.”

Not only should you wash the lettuce, but you must disinfect the areas it touched, just in case it was contaminated.

What about other types of produce?

While lettuce seems to be the main source of the current cyclospora outbreak, it doesn’t mean other fruits and vegetables can’t be contaminated.

If you plan to prepare or eat raw foods, the CDC recommends taking the following steps to reduce the risk of exposure:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables.
• Thoroughly wash all fresh produce, herbs, fruits, and vegetables before eating, cutting, and cooking.
• 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.
• Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible, preferably within two hours.
• If cooking raw foods, make sure they reach 158°F or higher to kill cyclospora parasites.

Any foods I should avoid?

If you want to avoid certain foods out of an abundance of caution, past cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the U.S. have been linked to the following foods:

• Salad greens
• Cilantro
• Basil
• Raspberries
• Green onions
• Snow peas

High-risk groups should avoid all raw foods

While most people should still be able to eat lettuce and other produce, the CDC warns that people in high-risk categories should take extra precautions. Those include older adults, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, children under the age of 2 (with a developing immune system) or anyone with a medical condition.

In those instances, canned fruits and vegetables, along with frozen options that are not included in an active recall, can help people continue eating produce while limiting reliance on raw leafy greens.

NewsNation’s Steph Whiteside and Michael Ramsey contributed to this article. 

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