In early July news reports warned that eating some fresh produce could cause a parasitic infection called cyclospora. The parasite spreads when food or water becomes contaminated by infected fecal matter from people. Reported symptoms included explosive diarrhea, muscle aches, fatigue and nausea. Weeks after first reports officials said the number of reported cases reached the thousands, and some states had higher counts.
Early testing identified lettuce as a likely source after a sample tested positive. Shortly after, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an announcement that negated its previous findings. Many restaurants, fast-food outlets and retailers removed affected ingredients, and consumers became more wary of raw produce while investigations continue.
Difficult words
- parasitic — Describing an organism that lives on another
- contaminate — Made dirty or unsafe by germs or chemicalscontaminated
- fecal — Related to waste matter from the intestines
- symptom — Signs or feelings that show a disease is presentsymptoms
- negate — Said a previous result or claim was not truenegated
- wary — Careful because of possible danger or problems
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you eat raw lettuce after these reports? Why or why not?
- How would you feel if you had symptoms like fatigue or diarrhea?
- What should stores do with food when there is a health investigation?
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