The Food and Drug Administration confirms iceberg lettuce is generally safe to eat following a major cyclosporiasis outbreak

The Food and Drug Administration announced that all recalled iceberg lettuce related to the specific cyclosporiasis outbreak is off the market and should no longer be available in stores or restaurants. This outbreak, caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, has resulted in 11,458 confirmed cases across 20 states, with 495 hospitalizations and two deaths. Federal health officials traced the source of the contamination to iceberg lettuce grown by Taylor Farms in central Mexico. While the outbreak is still being investigated, experts state that consumers do not need to avoid lettuce as a category. The administration announced that the immediate consumer risk from the recalled product has passed. To maintain food safety, experts recommend washing produce in cold running water, cleaning cutting boards, and cooking vegetables to at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the parasite. While the outbreak is still being investigated, the administration announced that the immediate consumer risk from the recalled product has passed.

Sources

• CNN
  Is it safe to eat lettuce yet? What to know as cyclosporiasis outbreak lingers
• USA Today
  Lettuce-linked parasite confirmed in 3 new states. See outbreak map
• WISN
  Consumer Reports: Don't skip the salad

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• The New York Times
  With Shoppers Wary of Illness, Farmers Destroy Millions of Heads of Lettuce
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | CDC (.gov)
  Cyclospora Case Data | Cyclosporiasis