Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Sep 1: Iceberg lettuce is generally safe to eat in the United States, even as federal health officials continue investigating a major outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to contaminated lettuce.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said it remains confident that all recalled iceberg lettuce connected to the outbreak has been removed from stores and restaurants. Officials are therefore not advising consumers to avoid iceberg lettuce altogether.

The outbreak was first linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at some Taco Bell locations. The FDA traced the lettuce to Taylor Farms and growers in Mexico. Taylor Farms de Mexico subsequently removed iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico from the US market and issued a recall covering certain Marketside iceberg salad packs and shredded lettuce.

The outbreak has been linked to 11,458 illnesses across 20 states, with 495 people hospitalised and two deaths reported.

Experts have noted that the continued reporting of cases does not necessarily mean people are still being infected by contaminated lettuce. There can be a significant delay between infection, the onset of symptoms, diagnosis and health authorities linking a case to an outbreak.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis, which can lead to severe diarrhoea and other intestinal problems. Symptoms can appear between two days and two weeks after infection, while determining whether a case is connected to an outbreak can take several weeks.

Health experts say people who want to take extra precautions can choose cooked vegetables, as cooking reduces the risk from pathogens found in raw produce. Peeled fruits such as bananas and oranges are another lower-risk option.

Consumers are also advised to maintain basic food-safety practices, including washing their hands and fresh produce, preventing cross-contamination, storing food properly and avoiding expired or recalled products.

The FDA's investigation remains ongoing, with officials continuing inspections and sampling of growers and processing facilities in Mexico. While the immediate risk from the recalled lettuce appears to have passed, authorities have not yet formally declared the outbreak over.