{"id":1927,"date":"2026-07-15T11:00:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T16:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/?p=1927"},"modified":"2026-07-16T12:42:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T17:42:47","slug":"food-safety-spotlight-reducing-cyclospora-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/food-safety-spotlight-reducing-cyclospora-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Safety Spotlight: Reducing Cyclospora Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/BlogHeader-Cyclospora-01.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1936\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/BlogHeader-Cyclospora-01.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/BlogHeader-Cyclospora-01-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/BlogHeader-Cyclospora-01-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Practical Food Safety Tips for Foodservice Teams<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As warmer weather continues, it&#8217;s a good time to reinforce food safety practices related to&nbsp;<strong>cyclosporiasis<\/strong>\u2014a food-borne, gastrointestinal illness caused by the parasite&nbsp;<em>Cyclospora cayetanensis<\/em>. Cyclosporiasis utbreaks are often linked to fresh produce and can pose a greater risk to older adults and senior living communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fortunately, the same strong food safety practices your team follows every day are the best defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Focus on Lower-Risk Produce<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fresh fruits and vegetables remain an important part of a healthy menu, but during periods of increased concern around cyclosporiasis, consider thoughtful substitutions when appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some practical strategies include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Choose cooked vegetables more often.<\/strong>&nbsp;Steamed, roasted, or saut\u00e9ed vegetables help reduce food safety risks while still providing excellent nutrition, as cooking to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use canned or frozen vegetables and fruit<\/strong>&nbsp;whenever they fit the menu. These products are nutritious and often provide greater consistency and less waste.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consider fruits that are peeled before eating,<\/strong>&nbsp;such as:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2022 Bananas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Oranges<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Apples that are peeled prior to service<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Limiting fresh produce that is eaten with the peel intact can help reduce potential exposure when outbreaks are occurring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-1024x536.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Produce Historically Associated with Cyclospora Outbreaks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time of publication, there were no recalls associated with this outbreak. As investigations continue, officials may identify specific sources. The foods listed below have been associated with previous Cyclospora outbreaks and are provided as a reminder to reinforce safe purchasing, handling, and serving practices during an outbreak &#8211; not because they are currently under recall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2022 Bagged salad mixes and salad kits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Fresh spinach and leafy greens<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Leaf lettuce<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Fresh basil<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Fresh cilantro<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Fresh-cut celery<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Fresh diced tomatoes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Fresh salsa<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Green onions (scallions)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Fresh diced onions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Mushrooms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Diced green peppers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Snow peas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Raspberries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1939\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-1024x536.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Hand Hygiene Still Matters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Handwashing remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect residents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foodservice employees should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2022 Wash hands thoroughly before food preparation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Wash hands after using the restroom, handling raw foods, or touching contaminated surfaces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Follow established glove-use and hand hygiene policies throughout meal preparation and service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Consistent hand hygiene protects both residents and fellow team members.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reinforce Employee Illness Policies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most important food safety controls is ensuring that&nbsp;<strong>employees who are ill do not prepare or serve food<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Managers should continue reinforcing policies that encourage staff to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2022 Report symptoms of gastrointestinal illness promptly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Stay home when sick.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Return to work only when they meet your organization&#8217;s illness exclusion guidelines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Supporting employees in making the right decision helps protect the entire community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Keep Following Your Food Safety Fundamentals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The cyclospora outbreak is a reminder that food safety depends on many small actions done consistently. Continue to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u2022 Purchase produce from approved suppliers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Prevente cross-contamination during preparation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Maintain clean and sanitized food preparation areas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2022 Follow standard operating procedures for safe food handling every day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Bottom Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By choosing lower-risk produce when appropriate, maintaining excellent hand hygiene, reinforcing employee illness policies, and following established food safety procedures, foodservice teams can continue serving nutritious, high-quality meals while helping protect the health of the residents they serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For More Information:<\/strong> Since this article was published, the FDA has shared additional information about Cyclospora. You can review the latest guidance on symptoms, prevention, and food safety on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/food\/foodborne-pathogens\/cyclospora?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FDA&#8217;s Cyclospora information page<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Practical Food Safety Tips for Foodservice Teams As warmer weather continues, it&#8217;s a good time to reinforce food safety practices related to&nbsp;cyclosporiasis\u2014a food-borne, gastrointestinal illness caused by the parasite&nbsp;Cyclospora cayetanensis. Cyclosporiasis utbreaks are often linked to fresh produce and can pose a greater risk to older adults and senior living communities. Fortunately, the same strong [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1927"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1952,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1927\/revisions\/1952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.diningrd.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}