How to properly clean produce to help avoid the explosive diarrhea parasite cyclospora

The brief

With headlines swirling around the cyclospora outbreak – and during peak salad season, no less – you may be reexamining how to effectively clean your fruits and vegetables at home. The parasitic illness, which causes watery, explosive diarrhea, has affected thousands of people across the US, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects the outbreak to continue through August. Health officials are reportedly looking at iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms supplied to Taco Bell as a possible source. Under normal circumstances, a good rinse would be a sufficient precaution, but until a source has been officially confirmed, it doesn’t hurt to be extra thorough when prepping fresh produce.…