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A Nationwide Cyclospora Outbreak Has Sickened 1,600+ Americans — And It's a Wake-Up Call About How We Wash Produce
With cases surging across 34 states this summer, food-safety experts say rinsing with water isn't the produce routine most families think it is.
If you eat fruits and vegetables, this is worth two minutes of your attention. A large, ongoing cyclospora outbreak has swept across the country this summer — and it has put a spotlight on something most of us never think twice about: how (and whether) we actually clean our produce before eating it.
What's happening right now
Since May 1, 2026, the CDC has confirmed 1,645 domestically acquired cyclosporiasis cases and is reviewing more than 5,100 additional cases — a dramatic jump from the 249 cases reported by this same point last year. Illnesses have been reported across 34 states, and 141 people (9%) have been hospitalized (CDC, 2026).
Investigators have already tied one cluster to shredded iceberg lettuce sourced from Mexico and served at some Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia; FDA traceback pointed to a single supplier (FDA, 2026). For the broader multistate outbreak, health officials say a single food source has not yet been confirmed (CDC investigation update).
What is cyclospora — and what are the symptoms?
Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, which spreads through food or water contaminated with feces. Symptoms usually begin about one to two weeks after exposure and can include:
- Watery (sometimes frequent) diarrhea
- Stomach cramping, bloating and increased gas
- Nausea and loss of appetite
- Fatigue and low-grade fever
- Weight loss
Without treatment, symptoms can last from a few days to a month or more, and may go away and come back (CDC, Symptoms of Cyclosporiasis). If you think you may be sick, contact your healthcare provider.
The uncomfortable truth about "just rinsing"
Here's what the outbreak is reminding everyone: the produce in your fridge has been on a long, hands-on journey. On average it travels over 1,500 miles, passes through hundreds of hands, dirty bins and trucks, and often arrives sprayed and waxed. Even organic produce can carry pesticide residue — according to the National Pesticide Information Center, organic foods are not necessarily pesticide-free (NPIC).
Don't just rinse with water! And what better way than to use our patented, lab-proven, natural Eat Cleaner. Don't take another bite until you've cleaned your fruits and veggies with Eat Cleaner!
A better everyday washing routine
Outbreak or not, water alone leaves a lot behind. That's the problem Eat Cleaner was built to solve — a smarter daily habit for the produce you and your family eat every day.
Eat Cleaner is the world's only patented, lab-proven, all-natural fruit & veggie wash. Its unique, all-natural formula is lab-proven to remove up to 99.9% of unwanted residues — wax, dirt, chemicals and pesticides — without leaving an odor or aftertaste. Unlike homemade hacks like vinegar or baking soda, its specific blend of natural elements actually breaks apart surface wax.
- 99.9% bacteria reduction in a third-party kill-time study (Certified Labs, Accession #46380, 6/24)
- 99× more effective than rinse water at reducing pesticides (atrazine & simazine) across three apple varieties (Ultimate Labs, R-ETC-110721-PRD-05)
- >99% removal of surface-applied imidacloprid & carbendazim from strawberries — more effective than water alone (Weck Analytical)
- Keeps produce fresh up to 5× longer by deterring the growth of bacteria, yeast & mold — cutting food waste and saving money
- 100% naturally derived · USDA BioBased Certified 96% · Gluten-free (SGS) · NSF Listed (Cat. 3D, Reg. 173203)
Just seven simple, food-safe ingredients: USP purified water, citric acid, sodium citrate, salt, decyl glucoside, glycerin and potassium sorbate. In a consumer survey, 96% agreed it's odorless and tasteless when used as directed, and each 12 oz bottle delivers more than 800 sprays.
How to use it — before you bite
- Spray the surface of your produce thoroughly.
- Wait 2 minutes to let the formula work.
- Rinse and enjoy — or dry thoroughly and store sealed in the fridge, where produce keeps up to 5× longer.
Eat Cleaner Fruit & Veggie Wash
90-Day Money-Back Guarantee
One more step most people skip
Here's the part that's easy to forget: if produce carried something into your kitchen, it didn't stay on the produce. Fruits and vegetables touch cutting boards, countertops, colanders, knives, the sink, fridge drawers and storage containers on their way to your plate. A genuinely clean routine includes the surfaces your food touches — not just the food itself.
That's where CleanBoss Multi-Surface Disinfectant & Cleaner comes in. It's botanically powered by thymol — a compound derived from the thyme plant, long recognized for its natural antimicrobial properties — and it's EPA registered, patented and lab-proven. One bottle cleans, disinfects, sanitizes and deodorizes in every room of your home.
- Kills 99.9% of germs** — bacteria, viruses & fungi on hard, non-porous surfaces Salmonella, E. coli & Listeria in 2 minutes; the virus that causes COVID-19 in 1 minute (Bureau Veritas testing)
- Food-contact surface safe — no rinse required Countertops, stovetops, sinks, cutting boards, bakeware, crockery and more
- Zero warnings No ingestion, eye, skin, poison, caution or irritation warnings — and no protective gear required
- Free from harsh & caustic chemicals No chlorine, ammonia, phthalates, phosphates, formaldehyde, bleach, petroleum, parabens or dyes
- 5× more powerful & kills 3× faster than the leading competitor using the same active
**Kills 99.9% of germs refers to bacteria, fungi and viruses on hard, non-porous surfaces when used as directed.
Surface & Produce Duo
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Frequently asked questions
Does Eat Cleaner remove cyclospora?
No product can guarantee removal of Cyclospora, and Eat Cleaner is not proven to remove or eliminate it. Per the CDC, washing alone cannot guarantee Cyclospora removal, and cooking produce to at least 158 °F kills the parasite. Please follow CDC and FDA guidance and avoid recalled products. Eat Cleaner is designed to remove wax, dirt, chemicals, pesticides and reduce bacteria as part of a better everyday washing routine.
What is Eat Cleaner proven to do?
Third-party testing shows Eat Cleaner removes up to 99.9% of wax, dirt, chemicals and pesticides, reduces 99.9% of bacteria in a kill-time study, and keeps produce fresh up to 5× longer by deterring the growth of bacteria, yeast and mold.
What is Eat Cleaner made from?
Eat Cleaner is 100% naturally derived from seven simple ingredients — USP purified water, citric acid, sodium citrate, salt, decyl glucoside, glycerin and potassium sorbate. It's USDA BioBased Certified (96%), gluten-free (SGS third-party lab tested), and NSF Listed, and contains no ingredients derived from soy, egg, fish, shellfish, dairy, peanuts or tree nuts.
How do I use it?
Spray produce thoroughly, wait 2 minutes, then rinse and enjoy — or dry and store sealed in the fridge, where produce keeps up to 5× longer.
Can I use the disinfectant on food-contact surfaces?
Yes. CleanBoss Multi-Surface Disinfectant & Cleaner is EPA registered and food-contact-surface safe with no rinse required. Its kill claims — 99.9% of germs (bacteria, viruses and fungi) — apply to hard, non-porous surfaces such as countertops, cutting boards and sinks. It is not claimed to kill or remove Cyclospora.
Don't take another bite until you've cleaned your fruits and veggies with Eat Cleaner.
Clean My Produce with Eat Cleaner →Prefer to subscribe & save? Get it every 60 days →