There are a lot of rumors out there right now about this massive explosion in Cyclospora cases, but it’s important to get the facts straight before you start pulling menu items.
What we’re hearing about fresh produce as potential culprits
CNN reports that a CDC email said FDA had started a traceback investigation into cilantro, white and green onions (scallions), and cucumbers as potentially contaminated food items in one group of cases - but it’s NOT in the largest Michigan/Ohio outbreak. Instead, it’s related to a group of cases in IL, NY (including NYC), PA, and TX. Cases are reportedly linked to a grocery store, catered event, and Mexican-style restaurants.
Rumors on the ground in the Detroit area of Michigan state that local franchises of one national chain restaurant had voluntarily pulled lettuce, pico-de-gallo, guacamole, cilantro and onions from their menus.
Likely more than one outbreak
It’s becoming increasingly clear that there’s more than one outbreak going on. The leaked CDC email indicates up to eight unique outbreak clusters, the largest of which is centered in Michigan and Ohio.
It’s possible that all eight clusters will be linked back to the same food item, but it’s also likely that there’s more than one thing happening at the same time.
More testing = more cases
The massive jump in cases this week isn’t just due to more people getting sick - it’s also because so many more people are going to get tested, and doctors are running full GI panels that will identify Cyclospora more easily. That’s not to say that there isn’t an outbreak - it’s very clear that we are seeing a sharp increase in severe diarrheal illness related to this parasite, but it’s also a bit of a chicken and egg situation. If you have multiple employees or guests with positive Cyclospora tests, if a product sample tests positive, if the FDA or health department contacts you, or if there’s a recall, we’d feel very differently.
So, should we pull fresh items?
It’s a really tough call. Some local franchises have pulled the most likely culprits - possibly because they got a letter from a produce distributor or supplier, or because they were contacted by the FDA or state health department looking into those items. But the range is still pretty broad, which may impact a lot of menu items and make operations tough.
It’s a balance between an abundance of caution and the risk of drawing unwanted attention. One franchise group for a national chain restaurant, for example, is being named because they appear to have voluntarily withdrawn a large variety of menu items in Michigan. This could be a savvy business move (pull it all so you’re not implicated), but also may bring more scrutiny than strictly necessary (the only restaurant being named right now in what is almost certainly an outbreak far bigger than any one chain).
All in all, we’re not recommending that any of our clients pull fresh produce items just yet. But that could change rapidly (as will all of today’s case numbers) as we get more information from the FDA, CDC, state, and local health departments. If you have multiple employees or guests with positive Cyclospora tests, if a product sample tests positive, or if there’s a recall, we’d feel very differently.
For more info on this outbreak, don’t hesitate to reach out to ZHH. We’ll continue to keep you updated and expect more info later today or early next week.
Sources: CNN, FDA, CDC, MDHSS, ODH, CIDRAP
We’ve gotten a lot of requests for documents to share with your board or executive leadership team, so we’ve put together a 1-page situational update on the Cyclospora outbreak, updated as of Friday afternoon. Feel free to share within your organization, and reach out if you have any other questions.
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