Beat the cyclosporiasis risk

Health officials are investigating a growing outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic illness that can cause explosive diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

The risk

The parasitic infection is said to be caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known simply as cyclospora, and is usually contracted through contaminated food.

© Toni Jardon, Getty Images

Bag salad mix is among the foods that have been linked to cyclosporiasis in the past.

Wash your hands, especially after bathroom use and before preparing food

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Typically, the CDC recommends hand sanitizer when you cannot wash your hands, but in the case of cyclosporiasis, that does not work.

NOTE

Right now, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not known to be effective against cyclosporiasis. Experts recommend washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom and before preparing food.

The type of soap matters less than how you wash your hands. Along with the CDC recommendations above, experts recommend that you scrub between your fingers, under your nails and the backs of your hands before rinsing thoroughly.

“Soap works mainly by physical removal,” said Dr. Coffman, Alliance Director at Stop Foodborne Illness. “Whether the soap is antibacterial or not, the most important part is washing your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds under running water. Soap helps loosen dirt, oils, and microbes so they can be rinsed away.

How to wash lettuce and leafy vegetables

Leafy vegetables, like lettuce and fresh spinach, also require a slightly different approach. Instead of scrubbing them, separate the leaves and rinse them thoroughly under cool, running water. It may also be helpful to remove the outer leaves specifically and throw them away. Once your leafy greens are clean, a salad spinner can help remove excess water before storing or serving them.

“When it comes to cyclosporiasis, washing alone is not enough to reliably remove the parasite,” Dr. Coffman said. “The microscopic oocysts, the infectious stage of cyclospora cayetanensis, can adhere tightly to the surface of fruits and vegetables and become trapped in natural cracks, crevices and folds.”

Previous outbreaks have been associated with produce like raspberries, basil, cilantro, snow peas, green onions and salad mixes.  However, investigators have not yet identified a single source for the current increase in cases.

Reduce the risk by avoiding common contaminants

Health officials have not named any one product that is linked in all of these cyclosporiasis cases. You can wash your hands, you can wash your produce, but Dr. Coffman says, “The most reliable way to reduce your risk of cyclosporiasis is to avoid consuming foods known to be contaminated.”

How to wash berries and other delicate produce:

“For delicate items like fresh berries, gently rinse them under cool running water and remove any visible dirt or damaged fruit,” Dr. Coffman said. Water is enough, you don’t need any produce-specific soaps. In fact, both the FDA and the USDA strongly advise against using any sort of soap on your food. Food, especially fruits and vegetables, can be porous and chemicals can get into those pores and make you sick when you ingest them.

Raspberries are on the list of items that have previously been linked to cyclosporiasis outbreaks and have made several lists of produce to scrub, but they’re incredibly fragile.

“Scrubbing a raspberry would definitely be a challenge!” Coffman said. “Delicate produce like raspberries is too fragile for that approach and should instead be rinsed gently under cool running water.”

How to wash firmer produce, like potatoes and carrots

“For firmer produce, such as potatoes, carrots or cucumbers,” Dr. Coffman said, “Use a clean produce brush to gently scrub the surface under running water.”

If your produce has a peel or rind, like a banana, that you’ll remove before eating, you may still want to rinse it first—especially if you plan to cut through it with a knife.

“It’s a good idea to rinse the outside of fruits you’ll cut through, such as oranges, melons or avocados, to help prevent bacteria or dirt on the surface from being transferred to the edible portion by the knife during slicing,” Dr. Coffman said.

But she also weighs the importance of eating a balanced diet, which includes fruits and vegetables. “We don’t want to discourage people from eating them. The goal is to balance the nutritional benefits of fresh produce with sensible food safety practices based on your individual level of risk.”

Health officials have also issued guidance aimed at anyone involved in preparing, processing or serving fresh produce.

Other ways to help reduce your risk of food-borne illnesses: