The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced on Thursday that it is easing its guidance regarding the consumption of bagged lettuce. This decision follows a period of heightened concern during which officials issued broad, precautionary recommendations urging residents to avoid certain bagged salad products due to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by a microscopic parasite.

State officials stated that the number of reported cases has declined sufficiently to warrant a return to routine food safety guidance. While the state previously advised consumers to exercise extreme caution, the current recommendation is for residents to follow standard hygiene practices, such as washing produce thoroughly, when preparing meals. The state has reported 12,485 cases of the illness, though the specific timeline and scope of the outbreak were not detailed in the latest update. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the downward trend in infections persists, but they have officially moved away from the restrictive warnings that were in place during the peak of the outbreak.