Cyclospora outbreak linked to imported cilantro
Imported fresh cilantro from the state of Puebla, Mexico has been linked to outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in the United States, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has issued a seasonal ban on the product in an effort to prevent further illness.
“FDA believes the source of C. Cayetanensis contamination is likely attributable to a broader source of contamination. Sources of contamination of growing areas, irrigation of fields with water contaminated with sewage, cleaning or cooling produce with contaminated water, and/or poor hygenic practices of workers that harvest and process the produce, and lack of adequate cleaning and sanitizing of equipment that comes in contact with the produce.”
Feces and toilet paper were observed in the growing fields by the investigators. Some farms had no bathroom facilities at all for workers, and those that did had no soap for handwashing, no toilet paper or paper towels. Investigators also found a holding tank at one of the facilities, with water used for workers to wash their hands, to be contaminated with the cyclospora parasite.