Chicagoans rethink leafy greens amid outbreak
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images
Raw leafy greens are off the table for many Chicagoans as the country deals with a Cyclosporiasis outbreak.
Why it matters: An Axios Chicago poll found that nearly half of respondents are avoiding lettuce while public health officials investigate.
Catch up quick: Federal investigators are trying to determine the source of the outbreak that has sickened thousands nationwide. Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce last week after it emerged as a possible source, though the FDA continues to investigate and has not finalized the source of the outbreak.
- CDC reported more than 11,500 cases of Cyclosporiasis since May 1, with 4,173 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases and more than 7,400 cases not yet confirmed by a lab.
By the numbers: Respondents to Axios' poll said:
- 49% are avoiding raw leafy greens for now
- 29% are more selective about where lettuce is sourced
- 17% are avoiding bagged salads
- 7% are throwing caution to the wind and eating as usual
Skipping leafy veggies
- "While I've generally been avoiding raw greens and veggies, I caved the other day and added lettuce to my Potbelly sandwich. I've been worrying about it ever since!" Kris A. answered in our poll about avoiding leafy greens.
- "I've had digestive issues since I was a teenager, so there's no point looking for trouble." — Mimi S.
- "I'm eating peeled cucumbers to replace lettuce. Better safe than sorry." —Suzanne O.
Being more selective and avoiding bagged salads
- "I don't trust RFK Jr. and the CDC. Better to be safe. I made a dish calling for spinach and I used frozen instead of fresh, for example," — Barb M.
- "We eat a lot of salads at home, and trust the greens from 80 Acres sold at Mariano's. 80 Acres grows all their greens hydroponically in their own greenhouses and seals and ships them directly to grocers." — Kyle H.
- "I keep trying to remember not to eat bagged lettuce. But I've been tripped up at a delicious catered taco bar at work more than once! I'm still ok so far." — Katie C.
Life as usual
- "I believe the lettuce in the stores is safe. If it wasn't, I'm sure they would pull it from their shelves." — Ron K.
- "It really is a small amount of affected people. Summer is BLT season and I don't want to miss that!" — Bryan M.
Zoom out: The outbreak is happening as the U.S. grapples with the worst year on record for the intestinal illness, which is caused by a parasite transmitted through food or water contaminated with human feces.
What to do: While skipping greens may be easy for some, others are craving salads and other fresh veggies. The FDA has detailed measures to take to clean food and keep your body safe.