Residents across South Florida are eliminating lettuce and leafy greens from their diets as E. coli and cyclospora outbreaks linked to contaminated produce continue to spread nationwide. The latest concern centers around lettuce connected to Taco Bell locations. Health officials said thousands across the United States have been affected, with confirmed cases also reported locally from the Palm Beaches into the Treasure Coast. The Florida Department of Health confirmed five local cases of cyclospora since May: two in Palm Beach County, two in St. Lucie County, and one in Martin County.
At restaurants, grocery stores and fast-food chains, families are steering clear of leafy greens. Dakota and Brynlee Rhodes, visiting Delray Beach with their mother Jenny, said they are trying to stay away from lettuce. Jenny Rhodes said she misses her salads and berries but believes it is better to be careful. George Lorenz, grabbing lunch with his father Brian on Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, said he has heard about the outbreak and is trying to stay away from contaminated produce. In Boynton Beach, shopper Hendriette Peckens said she bought two big bags of oranges, bread and some apples, avoiding produce because of the outbreak.
Samantha Barone, dietitian for the bariatric program at Delray Medical Center, said consumers should focus on produce with protective outer layers. She recommends foods like melon, bananas and avocados, all of which have harder skin that can be peeled. The trick is to wash them before cutting into them and peeling them. Barone also recommends beans and nuts as safe alternatives that still provide fiber and protein. Her biggest warning is to avoid bagged lettuce if possible. Instead, she recommends buying whole heads of lettuce, peeling away the outer layers and avoiding berries, especially raspberries, because they are difficult to clean properly.
Barone recommends cleaning produce using a one-to-three part mixture of distilled white vinegar and water. Consumers should soak, massage and clean off produce and cook vegetables. The contaminated produce can cause severe stomach illness and intense diarrhea. Brian Lorenz said he is not avoiding anything but is washing food carefully.