Health

List of fruits and vegetables that are safe from cyclospora parasite

Newsweek · Jul 13, 2026 16:46 · 5 min read

Close up of washing organic lettuce leaves for fresh salad preparation

Many consumers are wondering if any produce is considered safe from the parasite causing an explosive diarrhea outbreak.

As health officials investigate a surge in cyclosporiasis cases across the United States, many consumers are wondering whether any fruits or vegetables can be considered truly safe from the parasite behind the illness.

The short answer, according to food safety experts, is that no fresh produce is completely risk-free, though some foods are considered lower risk than others because of how they are grown, processed, or prepared.

The question comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigates hundreds of confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in at least 31 states. Symptoms often include watery diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, stomach cramps and, in some cases, frequent “explosive” bowel movements that can last for weeks if left untreated. Previous U.S. outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce, including bagged salads, cilantro, basil, raspberries and other fruits and vegetables. Federal officials have not yet identified a specific food source responsible for the current increase in cases.

List of fruits and vegetables that are safe from cyclospora parasite — A stock image of someone washing lettuce. Some fruits and vegetables are safer than others when it comes to the cyclospora outbreak.

What Is the Cyclospora Parasite?

The illness is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis, a microscopic parasite that can contaminate food or water with human fecal matter. The parasite is spread when people consume food or water contaminated with human fecal matter containing cyclospora oocysts.

Unlike many other foodborne pathogens, cyclospora only infects humans and must spend time in the environment before it becomes capable of infecting another person. Because of this life cycle, outbreaks are most often linked to contaminated fresh produce rather than direct person-to-person transmission.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says cyclospora has been associated with fresh fruits and vegetables in the United States and around the world. The parasite can be difficult to eliminate because common disinfectants, including chlorine-based produce washes, are generally not effective against it.

How to Keep Food Safe From the Cyclospora Parasite

Fresh produce is the category most commonly associated with cyclospora outbreaks because contamination can occur in fields through contaminated water or poor sanitation, according to the FDA.

That does not mean consumers should avoid produce altogether. Instead, food safety specialists say the risk varies. Fresh herbs, leafy greens and delicate berries are generally considered higher risk because they are often eaten raw and can be difficult to wash thoroughly. By contrast, canned fruits and vegetables are considered very low risk because the canning process uses heat to kill pathogens and parasites.

List of Fruits and Vegetables Unlikely to Have the Cyclospora Parasite

There are no raw fruits and vegetables that are completely safe from cyclospora, Texas State University professor Rodney Rohde told Newsweek, but there are “lowest-risk choices.”

These options are “generally fruits with thick, inedible peels,” Rohde said, since the edible part is naturally protected. Fruits include:

Bananas
Citrus
Avocados
Pineapples
Watermelons
Mangoes

“During an active outbreak, the greatest reduction in risk comes from avoiding produce identified in outbreak investigations, favoring cooked vegetables when possible, and selecting fruits that are peeled before eating,” Rohde told Newsweek.

There’s a reason produce items such as raspberries and cilantro are more commonly affected by the parasite, University of Delaware professor Kalmia Kniel told Newsweek.

“It is important to note that Cyclospora oocysts can attach to the hairlike projections on raspberries and cilantro,” Kniel said. “Research has shown that oocysts are less likely to attach to smoother surfaces like that of a blueberry. The cut edges of leafy greens might also allow for spaces for attachment of oocysts. Certainly any product where the outer covering is removed has a lower risk, like a banana, avocado, even the outer leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.”

For those opting for fruits or vegetables most commonly associated with cyclospora, especially when the source of the outbreak has not yet been identified, cooking is one of the most effective safeguards. While washing produce remains important for removing dirt and some contaminants, health authorities note that washing alone may not fully remove cyclospora. Thorough cooking can inactivate the parasite, making cooked vegetables safer than their raw counterpart. Produce typically eaten cooked carries less risk, such as:

Corn
Green beans
Peas (although pea pods eaten raw have been identified as a source of outbreaks in the past)
Squash
Cooked spinach

“It is good to remember that oocysts can be fully inactivated by cooking, so go ahead and cook with your herbs and bake that pie,” Kniel said.

Does Growing Your Own Food Minimize the Risk of the Cyclospora Parasite?

Growing produce at home or purchasing it from a farmer’s market may reduce exposure to some contamination risks associated with commercial farming and food distribution, but experts say it does not eliminate the possibility of cyclospora contamination. The parasite can still be introduced through contaminated water, soil, or poor sanitation practices.

“Home-grown produce and farmers’ market produce can be lower risk if produced using safe water, good sanitation, and sound agricultural practices, but they are not inherently safer than commercially grown produce,” Rohde told Newsweek.

The manner in which produce is watered can also influence the presence of cyclospora if the water source is contaminated by the parasite.

For example, drip irrigation, in which small amounts of water applied directly to a plant’s roots, might reduce the risk for fruits or vegetables grown above ground, such as tomatoes, University of Florida professor Keith Schneider told Newsweek. The parasite doesn’t travel through a plant’s root system, whereas overhead watering might expose the above-ground fruits or vegetables to the parasite if the source was contaminated. However, drip irrigation with a contaminated water source could still expose root vegetables, or produce grown close to the ground, to the parasite.

Other methods consumers can use to reduce their risk is by washing produce under running water, refrigerating cut fruits and vegetables, avoiding food from sources linked to recalls, and choosing cooked or canned options when concerned about exposure.

What Happens Next

A source behind the most recent outbreak has not yet been identified. As investigators continue searching for the source of the current outbreak, public health agencies stress that eating fruits and vegetables remains an important part of a healthy diet.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas

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