Food safety

Food safety experts say contaminated water in farm fields is a likely culprit. But questions still remain about the current outbreak.

As Gov. Laura Kelly finishes out her last term in office, seven Republicans and three Democrats are making their case to replace her. Find out about the candidates before the Aug. 4 primary. Plus: The cyclospora outbreak has some people scrutinizing where their produce comes from.

A parasite that causes severe diarrhea has sickened more than a thousand people in Kansas and Missouri. Federal officials are still investigating the cause of the outbreak, but it’s making some people scrutinize where their produce comes from.

Missouri health officials said they are confident the number of reported cases reflects exposure to contaminated food inside the state. But investigators are still working to identify the source of the outbreak.

Taylor Farms, a vegetable producer linked to the outbreak, issued a recall of iceberg lettuce shipped to 27 states, including Missouri.

Missouri still has far fewer reported cases of cyclospora, the parasitic infection than other Midwest states. Cylosporiasis symptoms include nausea and watery diarrhea.

The Kansas health department reported a jump in cyclosporiasis, the intestinal disease that causes explosive diarrhea, from 22 infections last week to 55. It can be caused by eating fresh produce that's been contaminated by the parasite, and salad greens are a likely culprit.

Kids in the Kitchen, a yearly event sponsored by Alphapointe, a nonprofit that serves people with vision challenges, focuses on getting young people ready to navigate in the kitchen. The goal is for them to be able to prepare their own meals while living independently.

As food production and farming become increasingly computerized, cyberattacks are on the rise. Lawmakers and universities are encouraging more research into how to protect the industry from cyber threats.

The risk from the recalled shrimp is "quite low," said Donald Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University. Cesium-137 is a byproduct of nuclear reactions.

Clay County Public Health Center’s environmental health program has been recognized among the nation's best for food safety. The Food and Drug Administration certification assesses work to ensure inspections, emergency response and food storage are all up to code.

Employees at the Taco Bell on Wornall Road staged a walkout in the middle of lunch Thursday, shutting down the store and rallying for a union and higher wages.