Michigan officials now say it’s safe to eat leafy greens once again after reported cases cyclosporiasis began to decline in the state.
Case-tracking data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human services suggests reported illnesses are slowing, including a downward trend in diarrhea-related emergency department visits, officials said in a press release on Thursday, Aug. 6.
Because of the downward trend, residents may resume the normal food-safety guidelines for eating lettuce and salad greens.
The broad precaution to avoid lettuce including bagged salad mixes has been lifted.
“Residents may resume their usual food handling practices and make choices based on their individual risk tolerance,” officials said.
The precaution was put into place due to the 47-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness caused by a microscopic parasite called cyclospora cayetanensis which, if contracted, most commonly causes explosive diarrhea. Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce was linked to the outbreak prompting the company to issue a nationwide voluntary recall on July 17, though the investigation carried on and federal officials said the company may not be the source.
“Since the start of this outbreak, MDHHS has remained committed to providing timely, transparent information and clear recommendations to Michigan residents,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “As new data has emerged, our guidance has evolved to reflect the best available evidence, helping ensure that prevention recommendations are accurate, actionable and responsive to the changing situation.”
On Aug. 6, 12,485 cases of cyclosporiasis were reported statewide with 279 hospitalizations and two deaths, according to the MDHHS’s Infectious Disease Outbreaks webpage. Officials will update the case data weekly on Thursday’s
“MDHHS continues to recommend avoiding recalled lettuce. The department will continue to monitor the situation closely and inform Michigan families if conditions change, or if signals are detected that suggest additional contaminated products have entered the food supply,” according to the release.
On average, officials said, people exposed to cyclosporiasis start to feel sick seven days after exposure, but symptoms can take up to 14 days to appear. Given the seven-day average incubation period, the data suggests that:
What are routine food-safety guidelines?
Here are the best ways to avoid food poisoning from foodborne illnesses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Officials say it’s safe to eat lettuce. Precautions you should take
Reporting by Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
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By Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
