Alabama Foods That Are Safe From Parasitic Outbreak

Nobody wants to end up with this bug. I don't like bugs of any kind.

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Especially the parasitic kind. The entire nation is talking about the Cyclospora outbreak. It's hit Michigan the hardest with hundreds of cases. Those cases (as well as the outbreak) can be traced back to lettuce at a Taco Bell, according to health officials. The state of Alabama has been spared a large number of sick people. So, let's try and keep it that way.

WHICH FOODS ARE SAFE?

With the cyclospora causing an “explosive diarrhea outbreak stretching to 31 states, people are looking for info on what foods to avoid. By the way, is there any worse way to describe a bout with diarrhea other than "explosive". Sorry, it was bothering me. According to the CDC, “If you’re unlucky enough to ingest it, you may get stuck with weeks of watery diarrhea as well as “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements.” Michigan is closing in on which foods carry the parasite, including produce and other foods. Here are the foods to skip and the foods that are safe:

Foods To Avoid:

• All Bagged salad mixes and pre-cut leafy greens
• Fresh herbs like basil and cilantro
• Fruits like Raspberries and blackberries
• Snow peas and green onions

Foods That Are Safe:

• Cooked Foods: Any hot meals, stir-fries, stews, and baked goods are generally perfectly fine to eat, as heat destroys the parasite.
• Thick-peeled Fruits: Fruits where you discard the rind are the safest raw choices. These include bananas, oranges, grapefruits, mangos, pineapples, and avocados.
• Canned Foods: Because of thermal processing, canned fruits and vegetables are safe.
• Frozen Produce: If you like berries for smoothies, you can cook them down first (e.g., into jams or sauces), then freeze them, or rely on commercial frozen produce

Stay aware and be safe.