The FDA has just posted an important alert regarding cilantro from Mexico: Cilantro fields from the Mexican state of Puebla are said to be contaminated with human feces and toilet paper. The discovery was found through the investigations by The Centers for Disease Control and state of public health officials due to recurrent outbreaks of cyclosporiasis in the United States: an intestinal disease that can cause severe diarrhea, fatigue, and other gastrointestinal illnesses. As such, the FDA is imposing an import ban on cilantro from this state. Read more about this news here.
If you operate a restaurant and have purchased what you believe to be cilantro grown in this area, discard the herb immediately and contact your purveyor for a refund or account credit.
From a long-term standpoint, is your restaurant prepared to handle the aftermath of a crisis? Let’s not forget about the Chi-Chi’s Hepatitis A disaster of 2003, which sickened hundreds and killed three. While proper planning should be your first line of defense, consider what would be required of your operation if a problem were to occur. It’s key to establish a contingency plan, from a press, public relations and compliance standpoint, should a guest fall ill.
Cilantro photo credit: Qfamily CC by 2.0