This is not medical advice. If you or your child develops prolonged watery diarrhea or other concerning symptoms, contact your healthcare provider. For the latest prevention guidance, check the CDC’s recommendations.
How I’m Avoiding The “Explosive Diarrhea Parasite” At All Costs This Summer
There are very few things that can send me into a spiral faster than reading the words “explosive diarrhea.” And tack on “parasite” as the cause, and it’s an immediate no for me. I’ve spent years reading about “watery bowels” in my romantasy books when the FMC gets nervous. I cannot mentally or physically have it become part of my actual summer reading. As someone who’s pregnant, has two young children, and a grocery bill that’s basically 90% berries, I simply cannot have that kind of chaos running through my house.
Lately, cyclosporiasis has been popping up in the news. Cases are still mild in Louisiana (for now) but neighboring states like Texas have it bad. It’s an illness caused by a parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis that can lead to prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue and more. According to the CDC, cases are most common between May and August, and fresh produce has been linked to past outbreaks, including salad mixes, spinach, cilantro, parsley, snow peas, and berries like raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.
Considering my kids could qualify as professional berry eaters and I could survive on bagged Caesar salad kits alone, I am on HIGH alert.
Here is what the CDC recommends to do to prevent acquiring this parasite:
Wash
- Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling or preparing raw fruits and vegetables
Prepare
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking
- Fruits and vegetables that are labeled “prewashed” do not need to be washed again at home
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating
Store
- Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible (within two hours)
Information from https://www.cdc.gov/cyclosporiasis/prevention/index.html
What I’m Doing to Lower the Risk of Cyclosporiasis Even More:
- Not eating any of the above from restaurants/take out for now
- Switching to frozen berries to try and hold my kids over
- Washing “prewashed” things again even if they say it’s not necessary (sorry I need to do this for my own peace of mind)
- Keeping my cutting boards and knives clean between prepping produce and other foods
- Cooking all vegetables to 158ºF. If you like warm fruit I’d do this too but I hate it
- Straight up avoiding my bagged salad kits & berries. I don’t know why but I just have this feeling if I got it this would be how, even though they have not officially traced the source.
- Peeling back the first few layers of food with peels like onions
- If I’m looking at a food item and thinking a parasite could make a happy home here, I’m not eating it
One important thing to know: experts still don’t fully understand exactly how Cyclospora gets into food, so there isn’t a perfect way to eliminate the risk. The CDC says the best prevention is practicing safe food handling and avoiding food or water that may be contaminated.
Hopefully this is one of those things you read, wash your berries a little extra carefully and never have to think about again. Thoughts and prayers this summer, parents. May no watery bowels enter your home, amen.
This is not medical advice. If you or your child develops prolonged watery diarrhea or other concerning symptoms, contact your healthcare provider. For the latest prevention guidance, check the CDC’s recommendations.
