USA TODAY reached out to major national fast food chains to ask if they are doing anything differently in response to the rise in cystosis cases.
The CDC is warning of an increase in cyclosporiasis cases. Here’s what you need to know:
Cases of cyclosporiasis are increasing across the United States as authorities warn of contaminated produce and symptoms.
The cyclosporiasis epidemic has left hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Americans with long-term parasitic infections, making eating out a unique challenge for those who want to avoid it.
Experts have tips for preparing meals at home, but eating out means having someone else do the prep work, like washing the produce and cooking the food to the right temperature.
“Consumers need to be a little more cautious and, frankly, paranoid, whether it’s at home or in a restaurant,” food safety attorney Bill Mahler told USA TODAY. Speaking on behalf of people who suffer from bouts of the disease, he said, “It’s not fun and it can last for months.”
As experts warn, some restaurants are removing risky ingredients from their menus. But major national chains have made little public information about their response plans. The outbreak has affected the country unevenly, with some states reporting hundreds or more cases and others reporting none at all.
USA TODAY reached out to the National Restaurant Association, which represents the industry, and several major national fast food chains to ask if they are doing anything unusual related to the outbreak. That included YUM!, the parent company of Taco Bell. Brands, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Jersey Mike’s, Burger King, Subway, Wendy’s. No one immediately responded to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
Meanwhile, Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs and food safety officer, Laurie Shallow, said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY on July 11 that Chipotle is monitoring the situation.
“We are aware of the Cyclospora investigation and do not believe the ingredients we source are related at this time,” Sharrow said. “We are closely monitoring the situation and evaluating new information as it becomes available. The health and safety of our guests and team members is our top priority.”
Latest information on Cyclospora outbreaks
Although researchers have not yet determined the cause of the rise in cyclosporiasis, it is known that cyclospora can be present in fresh food and water, and the infection is usually spread through feces from people who have eaten contaminated products.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tallied more than 840 cases as of July 9, but states are reporting far higher numbers of cases of cysticercosis, and thousands of people nationwide are suspected of having the disease. In Michigan, where infections are surging, health officials have identified more than 1,500 cases and 44 people are hospitalized.
Parasitic infections are usually not life-threatening, and people rarely infect each other directly. However, without treatment, symptoms of cyclosporiasis, such as watery bowel movements, explosive diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting, can last for more than a month.
At home, you can take steps to reduce your risk of contracting parasites, such as washing your hands frequently before touching produce and cooking fruits and vegetables to kill parasites.
Some restaurants are making changes due to the spread of infection.
As authorities work to trace the source of the outbreak, some restaurants are already educating customers on steps to prevent the spread of the parasite.
On July 10, DiPisa’s Pizza in Stevensville, Michigan announced that it was simply removing lettuce, tomatoes, and onions from its menu out of caution.
“Rather than take an unnecessary risk, we have decided that it is best to temporarily suspend the provision of these fresh foods until more information is available and the situation is resolved,” the pizzeria’s Facebook post reads.
Red B Restaurant in Idabel, Oklahoma, said in a July 10 Facebook post that although there are no confirmed cases of cysticercosis in the state, the restaurant is taking additional precautions.
The post said restaurants are cleaning produce by re-soaking it, even if lettuce and spinach are pre-washed but not bagged. As a result, the salad may end up a little soggy, the restaurant’s post says. The post added that the restaurant discounted the cost of kale and parsley because they are difficult to clean.
Rome’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant in Michigan says it never uses bagged lettuce, instead purchasing whole lettuce and cutting it fresh in-house daily. The restaurant said in a July 9 Facebook post that the decision was made earlier due to the freshness, texture and quality of the whole lettuce. The restaurant said it has not received any reports of lettuce-related illnesses.
USA TODAY contacted the restaurant for more information.
Experts give their opinions on safe eating out
Advice from federal health agencies primarily focuses on preparing meals at home rather than eating out. Some experts say it’s a good idea to be careful if you want to avoid getting sick.
When eating out, at least for now, it’s best to avoid fresh fruit and salad bars, especially if you don’t know where they come from or how they’re cleaned, says Rodney E. Rohde, a microbiologist and chair of the medical laboratory science program at the Texas State University College of Health Professions.
Cyclospora can spread easily, he said. More resistant to traditional chlorine-based cleaning methods. Additionally, although washing produce is recommended, rinsing alone will not completely remove parasites that have found their way into the crevices of contaminated fruits and leafy vegetables. The key is awareness and caution about what people eat, said Rohde, who recently wrote about the parasite for the state of Texas.
Dr. Suraj Sagar, director of infectious diseases at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey, said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY that it is still unclear whether this is one large outbreak spanning multiple states or multiple smaller outbreaks occurring at the same time.
Sagar, who is familiar with the parasite, said there may be multiple clusters involving different sources of infection.
“What’s different this year is the unusually high number of cases and the fact that law enforcement has not yet identified a specific source. In many cases, public health officials can trace the source to a specific farm, producer, supplier, or contaminated water source and issue a targeted recall,” Sugger said. “Right now, they are unable to do that, suggesting that there may be multiple contaminated products, or multiple unrelated outbreaks occurring at the same time.
“Overall, this is a significant public health story due to the large number of cases and the lack of clearly identified sources,” Sugger concluded.
Marler, the food safety attorney, said cyclospora is also a summer problem, with cases not normally seen in the winter. It is unclear why infections are increasing in this country, especially if outbreaks are increasing domestically rather than abroad, as they were more than a decade ago.
Of course, it’s nearly impossible to avoid food poisoning, Rohde said. However, when an outbreak occurs, public health is critical not only to detect the pathogen and prevent its spread, but also to track cases and determine their origin.
Meanwhile, the number of federal public health workers in the country is lower than in the past, he said, adding that the outbreak is “probably more widespread than we realized.”
