While a nationwide surge in cyclosporiasis cases has many concerned about eating certain produce, experts say locally grown fruits and vegetables – like those sold at farmers markets – may be a safer option.
Cyclosporiasis, which is caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, is usually spread through contaminated food such as produce items or water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The agency has confirmed more than 1,600 cases nationwide as of July 13, and it is working to verify more than 5,000 additional infections.
State officials have tallied higher totals so far. In Michigan alone, officials are tracking more than 3,700 infections as of July 15, according to the state’s Health and Human Services department.
CDC officials said on July 14 that cases in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky are likely linked. While they have not yet determined what’s causing the surge, officials in Michigan have indicated that they are looking into whether lettuce is the source of the state’s outbreak.
As the illness continues to spread, here’s what to know about safe practices around fruits and vegetables, especially when it comes to where they are bought.
Is Farmers Market Produce Safe From Cyclosporiasis Risk?
While not a total guarantee, experts told USA TODAY that produce from farmers markets could be a safer option because they are likely sourced from local growers. However, no produce is risk-free, especially since officials have not yet determined the exact source of this outbreak.
Experts said if the illness is spreading from produce, the food could be getting tainted by a contaminated water source at the growing site, and locally-grown produce may be less likely to be impacted by Cyclospora.
“It’s where it’s grown, not the point of sale,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Past cyclosporiasis outbreaks in the United States have stemmed from produce coming from other countries, which may be in part because other countries could be using contaminated irrigation sources, said Dana Mordue, an associate professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology at New York Medical College.
“A lot of times this has come in from overseas where, in some places, the procedure may be more lax than what we think we have in the United States,” Mordue said. “In this case though, given the size of the outbreak, it’s making me at least wonder whether or not something is happening within the United States.”
In the U.S., shifting weather patterns – like more heavy rainstorms – can cause agricultural runoff and sewage overflows, tainting irrigation water used for fresh produce, said Joellen Russell, a climate and integrative science professor at the University of Arizona.
What About Backyard Gardens?
As for those with their own backyard gardens, experts said they are likely safe, again, depending on the irrigation source.
“It has to do with the water that you’re using to irrigate it,” Adalja said.
Municipal water supplies in the United States are typically not contaminated with human feces, making it unlikely that the issue is stemming from a water source here, Adalja and Mordue said.
“Typically in your own garden, you know what kind of fertilizer you’re using,” Mordue added.
Will Washing Your Produce Help? Yes and No.
The CDC recommends washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. But some experts say that’s not enough when it comes to cyclosporiasis.
“Washing does not get rid of this sticky little invisible parasite, so that’s the problem,” Dr. Rabia de Latour, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone, told USA TODAY.
Mordue said rinsing produce is still a good thing, but it’s not enough to prevent infection.
“It may get rid of some of the Cyclospora, but it doesn’t get rid of all of it. So there’s still a risk that remains,” Mordue said.
Cooking fruits and vegetables is the only foolproof way to kill the parasite, de Latour said. Mordue said freezing also kills the parasite, so frozen fruits and vegetables are also safe.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY.
