How to clean produce to avoid cyclospora

Basil, berries and bagged salad are the ingredients that make summer meals taste like summer — and some of the produce connected to recent cyclospora outbreaks. This microscopic parasite can cause watery diarrhea “with frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the CDC, turning a cheerful farmer’s market haul into a potentially weeks-long illness. Not very summery at all.

The source of the current outbreak has not been identified, but the Associated Press reports that more than 1,500 people have been diagnosed just in Michigan, with similar illnesses under investigation in 30 other states. Previous outbreaks have been associated with raspberries, basil, cilantro, snow peas and salad mixes.

This doesn’t mean the produce drawer needs to be declared a biohazard. Dr. Erika Noel, a pediatrician and assistant professor at Hawaii’s medical school, told the AP, “We don’t need to panic,” and that the health benefits of fresh fruits and veggies outweigh the risks — as long as you follow best practices for hand washing, cleaning and safe food prep.

What is cyclospora?

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that infects the small intestine. People can become infected after consuming food or water contaminated with feces, and U.S. outbreaks have repeatedly been connected to fresh produce. Symptoms commonly begin 2 to 10 days after exposure.

The hallmark symptom is watery diarrhea, but an infection may also cause cramping, bloating, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss and prolonged fatigue. Untreated symptoms can last from a few days to more than a month, and may disappear and then return. Anyone experiencing possible cyclospora symptoms should contact a health care provider.

Start with basic food safety

To avoid infection, practice good food safety.

Dr. Noel recommends washing your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before handling food. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not kill cyclospora, but soap and water do. The FDA recommends washing for at least 20 seconds before preparing fresh produce.

Wash cutting boards and countertops with soap and hot water and use separate cutting boards for fresh produce and raw meat, poultry or seafood.

And most importantly, always wash your produce before peeling, cutting or eating it, even when the rind or skin will not be eaten, because a knife or peeler can carry contamination from the outside to the edible parts. Here are Dr. Noel’s tips for washing different types of produce that might carry cyclospora:

Separate the leaves on herbs like cilantro and basil.
Cut off the roots from green onions, then remove the outer layer and rub the surface while running them under water.
Instead of using pre-mixed or bagged salad, buy a head of lettuce and remove the outer leaves.
Scrub the outside of melons before chopping them.
Peel fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
Wash produce in vinegar — vinegar doesn’t kill the parasite, but research shows it can help remove it. Noel recommends “submerging produce in a bowl filled with three parts water and one part vinegar and swishing it around for a few minutes. Using a salad spinner to rinse with water can help get rid of the vinegary taste.”
Cook produce to an internal temperature of 158 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to kill cyclospora.

Tools for food safety in the kitchen

OXO Good Grips Vegetable Brush

This palm-sized brush follows the contours of potatoes, carrots and other firm produce with sturdy nylon bristles that reach into uneven surfaces. The flexible, nonslip grip is easy to hold onto while scrubbing, and the whole brush can go in the dishwasher for cleaning.

MR.SIGA Fruit and Vegetable Cleaning Brush

Two bristle textures make this two-pack useful for cleaning a wide variety of produce. Gentle angled bristles are good for mushrooms and other delicate items, while stiff straight bristles can clean potatoes, radishes and cucumbers. Each brush has a nonslip palm grip and is dishwasher-safe.

OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner

After rinsing produce with vinegar, this salad spinner can rinse and dry it to remove the vinegary taste. It’s good for lettuce, herbs and fruit. The pump can be operated with one hand, and the non-skid base stays sturdy on the countertop.

Openfly Flexible Vegetable Brush Fruit and Vegetable Brushes

This five-piece set comes with different tools for different produce: a mini fruit brush, carrot brush, corn silk remover, soft fruit brush and a brush-peeler combo. They’re made for different jobs; for example, the soft fruit brush has flexible silicone bristles made for delicate fruit surfaces, while the peeler is made from stainless steel to be tough and durable.

GORILLA GRIP BPA-Free Reversible Kitchen Cutting Board Set of 3

These three boards come in different sizes: small, medium and large to offer all the prep surfaces you need in one set. They’re made from BPA-free plastic and are reversible, with mess-containing grooves and slip-resistant designs.

Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler

This swiveling peeler is made with two stainless steel blades and a built-in blemish remover. Its soft, nonslip rubber handle works for right- or left-handed users, and the blade assembly is designed not to clog with peels. It’s also dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.