The recent Cyclospora scare in the United States that spread across 45 states and affected thousands of people, left some raw food lovers wondering about the safety of the greens they are buying since the outbreak was linked to contaminated lettuce. Cyclospora species are not the only parasites that can contaminate raw vegetables or fruits so the concerns are not exaggerated.
The most common parasites are
- Ascaris (roundworm)
- Cryptosporidium and Giardia
- Cyclospora cayetanensis
- E. coli
- Salmonella
There are of course other parasites that affect raw milk and cheeses made out of raw, unpasteurized milk, raw eggs, and raw or undercooked fish, meat and poultry. Raw food omnivores must be extra careful where they obtain the produce they consume raw.
Consumption of contaminated produce results in foodborne illness with symptoms such as diarrhea, fever and nausea. Young children and older adults are especially vulnerable.
To minimize exposure to contaminated foods
- know where your food comes from
- properly store and refrigerate your food
- observe strict kitchen hygiene.
If you can grow your food, you are on a safe side. You not only take care of your crops, but take care of the soil and the water you are using to water your garden. You harvest what you need and probably eat it in the shortest possible time after harvesting. But even if you have a garden, you might not be able to grow everything you need or want to eat.
The second best option would be buying your produce straight from a farm right after it was harvested. Many farms and orchards offer self-harvest for seasonal produce like strawberries, apples or pumpkins.
Farmers markets are good places to buy your produce. Still, fruits and vegetables had to be prepared for transport and might contain some contaminants. Organically grown produce might not always be the safest either since there always is a chance of bacterial contamination with waterborne organisms or when manure is used for fertilization, for instance. Also, when pesticides are not used, the fruits and vegetables may come with insect eggs, larvae, fungus and mold.
Most people, however, buy their produce in supermarkets. The produce might look fresh but it often traveled long distances and was prepared for transport and storage. Refrigeration is a big part of the process, convenience is the other. Packaged, chopped salads and herbs, trays of microgreens and sprouts can contain harmful bacteria and other pathogens. If you can avoid buying them, do so.
Once the fresh produce ends up in your kitchen, it is up to you to wash it thoroughly and store it properly. Busy people often buy more than they can use in a day and do the meal prep for the whole week. If this is what you do, make sure that the jars and containers you are using for storage are super clean or even sterilized to prevent food spoilage and contamination.
Always wash your juicer, blender, spiralizer and the sprouting jars after each use. Keep your fridge clean and regularly check the produce you are keeping there. Also remember that once you defrost the frozen produce you cannot freeze it again. So, if you are buying frozen berries in bulk for instance, take only what you need, thaw it in the fridge, and keep the rest frozen.
If you live in an omnivore household that is also handling animal protein, make sure that the utensils, especially the cutting boards you are using for your raw fruits and vegetables, are not the same that are being used to cut meat or fish. Keep your kitchen clean and sanitize the surfaces if necessary.
The biggest danger may come from raw food you are eating in a restaurant, especially when you travel. In fact, you are the most vulnerable when you are on the road. When you travel by air, for instance, your microbiome changes drastically. This may considerably affect your digestion. Also, travel may weaken your immune system and expose you to germs you normally do not encounter.
If you are a hardcore raw foodie, on vacation you depend on what is being served in restaurants, juice bars, salad bars and hotel or cruise buffets. You have very little control over how food is stored or prepared and have no choice but to trust that the hygiene standards are observed. If, however, the restaurant uses contaminated produce to make your salad, you might get sick. Maybe you should reconsider your choices. A bowl of cooked vegetables probably contradicts your raw food philosophy but it will certainly do much less harm to your body than a contaminated salad. You may need some digestive enzymes to go with it but at least cooked food would be a safer choice in some places.
Always use common sense when eating out and traveling and remember to wash your hands before eating or handling the food.
In radiant health, passionately raw - Dominique
Dominique Allmon©2026
Also of interest: Staying Raw When You Travel
*Information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure a disease.
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