Expired News - Say it ain't cilantro: Feces found in Mexican-grown herb - The Weather Network
Your weather when it really mattersTM

Country

Please choose your default site

Americas

Asia - Pacific

Europe

News
The next time you order guacamole, there's a risk you could get a little something extra on the side.

Say it ain't cilantro: Feces found in Mexican-grown herb


Katie Jones
Digital Reporter

Thursday, July 30, 2015, 10:55 AM - The next time you order guacamole, there's a risk you could get a little something extra on the side.

Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an alert banning the import of the herb cilantro from a state in Mexico, after recent outbreaks of related illness in the United States.

The investigation was launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after public health officials noted a rise in annual outbreaks of cyclosporiasis, a parasite-caused illness linked to severe diarrhea, since 2012.

In 2014, there were over 300 cases of cyclosporiasis reported in nearly 20 states, with the majority of outbreaks occurring in the state of Texas. At least seven people were hospitalized, and all those affected claimed they fell ill after consuming cilantro.

The illness-causing pathogen is typically contracted through fecal matter.

After looking into the matter further, officials discovered that cases were linked to the consumption of cilantro sourced from the Mexican state of Puebla. 


RELATED: Red eyes in the pool NOT due to chlorine, but something way worse


Nearly a dozen farms were inspected by the FDA and Mexican authorities.

At least eight of the facilities turned up some pretty disgusting findings.

"Conditions observed at multiple such firms in the state of Puebla included human feces and toilet paper found in growing fields and around facilities," reads the FDA alert.

Onsite, officials also found that the farms and packing houses lacked proper hand-washing and washroom facilities. In many cases, there were no proper toilets or sinks available to employees, and that all lacked fresh, clean water and soap.

Worst yet, many surfaces used for handling, cutting and tying the cilantro were unwashed and visibly dirty. The water supply used to wash the cilantro prior to packaging and shipping was also found to be vulnerable to contamination from nearby septic and sewage systems.

Officials believe the cilantro in question could have been tainted at one or many stages of production; from the littered growing fields to the packing and processing houses.

This week's discovery comes as more bad news for guacamole lovers, a popular food and restaurant item made with cilantro.

The California drought had already taken its toll on avocado production. More than 80 per cent of avocados, the main ingredient in guacamole, are grown in California.

Cilantro  is also grown in California, and when news of the FDA ban broke, American fast food chain restaurants Chipotle Mexican Gril and Taco Bell confirmed that the cilantro used in their menu items is sourced from the golden state.

Source: Bloomberg | U.S. Food and Drug Administration

WATCH BELOW: Prevent food poisoning with one simple step

Default saved
Close

Search Location

Close

Sign In

Please sign in to use this feature.