Don’t let food make you sick: Wash your hands and veggies!
- Jul 27
- 2 min read
If the news has taught us anything recently, it’s that anyone can get sick from food.
Since May 2026, there have been over 1,900 cases of cyclosporiasis – a food illness caused by a tiny parasite – in the United States.
While this specific outbreak has been linked to shredded lettuce from central Mexico, cyclosporiasis and other food illnesses (like salmonella, E. coli, and norovirus) can happen when you eat anything that has germs on it.
Common symptoms of food illnesses are:
Diarrhea
Stomach pain or cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Fever
You can help prevent getting sick from food by washing your hands and fresh vegetables and fruits. Follow these tips to help keep you and your family healthy!
Make good choices
Staying healthy starts right at the grocery store. If you can, buy fruits and vegetables that are grown locally. Local produce doesn’t have to travel as far to your store, so it has less chance of being contaminated with germs.
Choose fruits and vegetables that can be easily cleaned, scrubbed, or peeled. Removing or cleaning the outer layer helps ensure germs end up in the waste bin or down the drain and not on your plate.
Choosing canned produce is another great option to help you stay healthy. Most germs are killed during the canning process.
Store your food safely
Once you’ve brought your fruits and vegetables home, carefully store them to keep them safe to eat. Anything that you refrigerate should be placed above - and separated from – raw meats, seafood, and poultry. Juices from raw meat can drip onto your other produce and make you sick.
Wash your fresh fruits and vegetables just before you eat them to make sure they are as clean as possible.
Wash your hands
When you’re ready for a snack, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before touching any food. You should also use warm water and soap to clean your counters, cutting boards, and utensils before, during, and after cooking.
Wash your fruits and veggies
Before you start cooking, make sure to remove outer leaves and husks and rinse your fruits and vegetables under cool, running water. If possible, scrub them with a brush specifically used for washing produce – and disinfect the brush after every use. Let your fruits and vegetables air dry or dry them with a paper towel before eating.
When to get help
Some people – like people over 65, small children, people who are pregnant, and people with weakened immune systems - are more likely to get sick from food and are more at risk for serious health problems from food illness.
If you got sick from food, report it online or call us at 360-728-2235.
Seek medical help as soon as possible if you experience severe symptoms like:
Bloody diarrhea
Diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days
High fever (temperature over 102°F)
Throwing up so often that you cannot keep liquids down
Signs of dehydration, which include not urinating (peeing) much, a dry mouth and throat, and/or feeling dizzy when standing up
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