Cyclospora. It’s a word and a parasite that we have become all too familiar with in recent days. This is the basis of the contamination of iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and sourced from its massive operations in central Mexico. At first, the outbreak of cyclosporiasis (the condition caused by the parasite) was reported in five states. As of this writing, it has been identified in 41 states with over 11,500 cases. These were the numbers cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on July 24. They may be higher today.
Although Vermont has not reported any cases, we asked Kate Hays, Director of Dining at Wake Robin, to tell us what precautionary steps are being taken here.
Kate said, “If there is an outbreak, our purveyors send us alerts and recall notices if we’re potentially at risk. We also take extra care if there is an outbreak without a known source.” As the news spread and more cases were reported, the kitchens at Wake Robin took extra measures to wash all at-risk items that would be consumed raw—salad items, fruit, etc. The bright side of this, according to Kate, “is that in the summer most of our produce comes from local farms, so we don’t have to worry about this as much.”
Still, possible contamination of food and a vulnerable population mean we must take these threats seriously and protect ourselves. For cooked items, “we have to check temperatures to make sure all are food safe.” There are more stringent standards in the Linden Health Center. Kate tells us, “If you’re on Cedar (Skilled Nursing) or Juniper (Memory Care), regulations have us cooking foods to higher temperatures, so no poached eggs or rare meats on these neighborhoods.”
Safe practices of food handling are a smart idea in any kitchen. Here are some simple guidelines from the Vermont Department of Health:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing food.
- Rinse produce thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or cooking, even if it is labeled as “pre-washed.”
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables (like melons or cucumbers) using a clean produce brush.
Eat well. Be safe.
