Parasite 🦠 < Paradise

Ok, I don’t want people to panic, but put your salad fork down. There’s an outbreak of cyclosporiasis.

Cyclosporiasis is caused by Cyclospora cayatenensis, a parasite that is rare in the U.S. It can be spread through food and water that have been contaminated with feces.

This is a parasite that causes extreme diarrhea, cramping and dehydration. Think of it as a slow moving food poisoning because it could be in your body for a week before you develop symptoms. I checked the CDC website, but you have to scroll to infinity under the letter “C” to find any information. Luckily, there are epidemiologists and journalists who are working to get the information out to everyone.

Another great resource is Chef and Cookbook Author Paola Velez.

She wrote a list of what chefs and restaurants can do to reduce food waste by repurposing fruit and produce.

• Compotes

• Jams

• Pate de fruit

• Jelly

• Coulis

• Fruit preserves in syrup (warm technique)

• Marmalades

• Fruit butters

• Chutney

• Curd

• Confit

• Conserve

• Pickling (heated method)

• Fruit syrup

Want the texture of a fresh fruit but need to cook the berries etc to be safe? Try making agar jellies and a fruit syrup with a touch of citrus.

Have a good weekend,

Nichelle