A diarrhea-causing illness has taken over the US and the news cycle, but as officials try to trace its origins, many greens lovers are asking themselves the same question: Can I eat Lettuce now?
The answer is maybe.
Cyclosporiasis has spread throughout much of the US, with the multistate outbreak already affecting at least 1,645 people while 5,000 more cases are still pending further testing. The major outbreak has put food under added scrutiny—particularly lettuce. But the specifics have turned increasingly confusing. Here’s what we know.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked the outbreak to iceberg lettuce from a Taylor Farms de Mexico facility in central Mexico, although the FDA later announced the tests were actually a false positive. Still, Taylor Farms has since issued a voluntary recall of the product, and the FDA still recommends to avoid ingesting products recalled by the company. The iceberg lettuce is the only identified source at the moment, although investigations in the US and Mexico are still ongoing.
According to the product recall announcement, the recalled lettuce includes those distributed from June 29 through July 16 across various states, with best used by dates running through August 3. The recall includes a variety of products that feature shredded, chopped, and salad-mix versions.
The affected lettuce has been distributed across the following 27 states: Alabama, Arkansas
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
What lettuce is affected?
It’s not only bags with the Taylor Farms name that may be affected. Some lettuce products from the Marketside brand come from the same facility and may be available at Walmart—the retailer has since removed products suspected to be affected as a precaution.Â
Additionally, many restaurants and school cafeterias receive their produce from one of the nation’s largest food suppliers, Sysco, which carries product from Taylor Farms. Notably, Taco Bell has also been affected by the outbreak. Reportedly, Taco Bell has received infected lettuce, with links to cases in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, although the restaurant has also removed the affected lettuce from its various locations.
For those who believe they may have bought affected lettuce, they may compare the product code and date at the back of the packaging with the details shared on the Taylor Farms website.
Cyclosporiasis is a form of intestinal illness caused by consuming produce or water infected with fecal matter. Caused by a microscopic parasite, the illness takes anywhere between days to weeks to show symptoms but will leave those infected with symptoms like bloating, cramps and explosive diarrhea.Â
According to reports, the parasite is especially hard to test for due to other compounds found in food and a small number of eggs present in produce. Still, the FDA is still investigating the ongoing outbreak.
Can I eat lettuce now?
While experts urge consumers to remain vigilant of the raw produce they consume while the outbreak remains ongoing, experts also point out that not all lettuce is necessarily affected.
For now, experts urge consumers to remain vigilant of the raw produce they consume while the outbreak remains ongoing although the FDA’s official directive is only to avoid the iceberg lettuce affected by the recall. While past outbreaks affected other forms of produce like blueberries, cilantro, basil, snow peas, and other leafy greens, there is no direct link to the current outbreak and should be safe to eat for now. For consumers looking to take extra precautions may still consume leafy greens or other forms of fresh produce by cooking it at 158 degrees or higher.
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