What Foods Are Safe to Eat During the Cyclospora Outbreak?

As cyclosporiasis cases climb past 7,000 confirmed and suspected across 34 states, health officials are urging people to take extra precautions with fresh produce, even though the exact source of the outbreak still hasn't been identified.

The CDC confirmed 1,645 cases of the parasitic infection as of this week, with roughly 5,100 more under review, and at least 141 people hospitalized. Cyclosporiasis is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis and spreads when people eat food or drink water contaminated with fecal matter, most often through fresh fruits and vegetables irrigated with tainted water.

Foods Linked to Cyclospora Outbreaks

While this year's specific source hasn't been confirmed, cyclospora outbreaks have historically been tied to a consistent list of foods:

• Raspberries and blackberries

• Basil and cilantro

• Green onions

• Snow peas

• Lettuce and mesclun mixes

• Bagged or pre-packaged salad blends

• Watercress

• Mango

• Pre-packaged vegetable trays

Michigan, the state hit hardest by this year's outbreak, has specifically flagged lettuce and salad greens as a likely, though still unconfirmed, common link based on interviews with more than 1,000 confirmed patients. Bagged salad mixes in particular have been tied to prior cyclospora outbreaks in both the U.S. and Canada. Fast food chain Taco Bell has also removed select ingredients from some locations as a precaution while investigators continue examining a possible connection.

Foods Considered Safe Right Now

Despite the rising case count, food safety experts are not telling people to avoid fruits and vegetables altogether. Currently considered safe:

• Meat, poultry, seafood and eggs carry no outbreak risk from this parasite

• Dairy products, including milk, cheese and yogurt

• Grains, bread, pasta and other shelf-stable pantry staples

• Canned or jarred fruits and vegetables go through a heat-processing method that kills the parasite

• Whole produce that you wash and cut yourself, rather than pre-chopped or pre-bagged options

• Any fresh produce cooked to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit, the only method confirmed to reliably kill the parasite

"You can and should continue to eat fruits and vegetables," James E. Rogers of Consumer Reports said, though he recommended avoiding pre-chopped and pre-bagged produce specifically. "Stay away from the prechopped, prebagged, and all the rest of that," he said. "Instead, buy them whole and chop them yourself while practicing good sanitary hygiene in your kitchen."

Contrary to popular assumption, freezing by itself does not kill cyclospora. A typical home freezer isn't cold enough to eliminate the parasite; research shows it would take sustained temperatures of roughly -4°F for 48 hours or industrial-level freezing to do so. Frozen produce is safer in practice primarily because it tends to be cooked before eating, not because the freezing process itself neutralizes the risk.

For residents of Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky, where the bulk of this year's cases have clustered, Rogers suggested holding off on lettuce and other salad greens specifically until more is known about the outbreak's source. People who are immunocompromised, along with young children and older adults, may want to take additional precautions, such as sticking to cooked vegetables during this period.

How to Properly Wash and Prepare Produce

When purchasing greens, health officials recommend buying whole heads of lettuce rather than pre-cut or bagged versions, since packaged produce typically undergoes more handling. For herbs like cilantro and basil, separate the leaves individually before washing rather than rinsing them as a bunch. Green onions should have their roots cut off and outer layer removed, then be rinsed under running water while rubbing the surface directly.

Washing produce in a solution of water and vinegar can also help physically remove the parasite, though it won't necessarily kill it outright. Notably, alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not kill cyclospora; soap and water remain the most effective way to remove it from hands, particularly after using the bathroom and before handling any food.

For anyone hesitant about eating produce raw right now, cooking is a straightforward workaround. Leafy greens can be used in dishes like spinach quiche, soups or shakshuka, snow peas work well in stir-fries, and berries can be simmered into jam or baked into pies, all of which neutralize the risk while still allowing for a varied diet.

Symptoms to Watch For

Cyclosporiasis symptoms typically appear five to seven days after exposure, though the range can stretch from two to 14 days, which makes pinpointing the source of any individual case especially difficult. Symptoms include watery, sometimes explosive diarrhea, along with stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss, and can persist for weeks without antibiotic treatment. A stool test is required to confirm a diagnosis, and anyone experiencing persistent symptoms is advised to contact a healthcare provider.

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