Cilantro Recall 2015: 380 Sick Due to Human Waste-Contaminated Mexican Cilantro

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevenion (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have found that Mexican cilantro imported into the Unites States may have been contaminated by human feces, making over 380 people in 26 states severely sick. 

According to the CDC, more than 384 people in the United States have been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness, due to contaminated cilantro, reports NBC News. 

This summer marks the fourth outbreak of cyclosporiasis, which is caused by cyclospora parasite, in the United States, states Times Free Press. The current outbreak is believed to have started on or after May 1. 

Big News Network explains that cyclospora parasites are not invisible to the naked eye and can result in a stomach illness if contaminated food or water is consumed. The Huffington Post notes that washing or cleaning the infected cilantro will not remove the parasites, but cooking it may decrease the possiblity of infection.

People infected with cyclosporiasis will experience water diarrhea, bloating, increased gas and other flu-like symptoms like nausea, slight fever and vomiting. The CDC adds that infected patients may also feel fatigue or muscle aches.

The illness can last for up to a month or more, if not treated. In addition, the symptoms can come and go after infection. 

Of the 26 states, Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin have clusters of the disease, identified the CDC. The outbreaks in Texas and Wisconsin, in particular, have been linked to Mexican cilantro served in restaraunts.

While there have been no definitive tests conducted to prove the source of the outbreaks, the FDA have mentioned that several farms in Puebla, Mexico supplied the infected restaurants with cilantro.

The FDA has banned cilantro produced by Puebla farms in July, after finding human feces and toilet paper in the herb fields. As of late, the federal agency has detained all cilantro coming from the Mexican border for all of August. 

Cilantro coming from Puebla will not be allowed in the United States unless inspected and certified that it is not contaminated. Meanwhile, proof of orginination documents must be provided for cilantro produced by other Mexican farms. 

Big News Network notes, however, that the FDA ban does not apply to multi-ingredient foods that my contain cilantro, only to the importation of the herb itself.

Lauren Sucher, FDA spokesperson advised: "If in doubth, throw it out."