In early July news reports raised concern that eating certain fresh produce could cause an outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that spreads when food or water is contaminated by infected fecal matter from people. Reported symptoms included explosive diarrhea, muscle aches, fatigue and nausea. Weeks after the first reports officials said the number of reported cases reached the thousands, with Michigan and New York among the states with higher counts.
Early testing pointed to lettuce after a sample tested positive for cyclospora, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration later issued an announcement that negated its earlier findings. The change created uncertainty about the exact source and the timeline of contamination.
Businesses removed affected ingredients as a precaution and consumers reported increased wariness about raw produce. Investigations and additional testing are ongoing, and public officials and food-supply experts continue to monitor the situation and advise caution.
Difficult words
- outbreak — a sudden start of many disease cases
- parasite — a small organism that lives on others
- contaminate — to make something dirty or unsafecontaminated
- symptom — a sign of illness people can feelsymptoms
- precaution — an action taken to avoid danger
- investigation — a careful search to find factsInvestigations
- monitor — to watch something over a period
- wariness — a feeling of caution or distrust
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you change how often you eat raw produce after reading this? Why or why not?
- What other steps could food businesses take to keep customers safe?
- How should public officials share changed or uncertain information with the public?
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