Well, iceberg lettuce is not the only produce causing concerns in the general public. The Centers for Disease Control officials say five cases of salmonella may be due to jalapeño peppers used at Chipotle and Qdoba restaurants. Both chains have removed those peppers as a precaution. The peppers were sourced to Sinaloa, Mexico and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors.
Speaking of iceberg lettuce…The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has just been notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that 92 Nebraska cyclosporiasis cases have been linked to an ongoing multi-state outbreak. Nebraska currently has 218 confirmed cases. 191 cases were acquired in the United States. Not all of these cases are related to this outbreak. On July 17, Taylor Farms recalled certain iceberg lettuce products sourced from Central Mexico. The CDC advises consumers not to eat recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico – other ways of avoiding the contaminated produce include
- Eat locally sourced produce when possible
- Cook foods when possible. Heating food to at least 158°F (70°C) kills the Cyclospora parasite.
- Wash all fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly under clean, running water before eating, cutting, or peeling them. Scrub firm produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush.