Moms always know best! And sometimes, they also know exactly which parasite is currently making headlines. 😂
Alex Drummond shared a very funny peek at life with The Pioneer Woman as her mother this week, and anyone who has ever received a slightly alarming-but-loving warning text from their mom will feel deeply seen.
In an Instagram story, Alex posted a screenshot of a text message warning her about “a new parasite” that’s been going around in multiple states. The message urged her to “Wash your hands like crazy and wash all your fruits and vegetables!” Then came the very important follow-up: “It’s in Texas.”
Alex, who lives in Texas with her husband Mauricio and their daughter Sofia, clearly took the warning to heart. She shared a photo of a bowl of berries soaking in water and wrote, “Anyone else casually receive texts like this from their mother 😂😂😂 Anyways guess I’m about to be crazy about washing our fruits & veggies!”
Ree Drummond reposted Alex’s story with a little motherly self-defense. “Alex why you gotta do your mom like that 😂” she joked. “I don’t know why I needed to use the word massive but everyone stay safe out there.” What can we say? Ree is always looking out for her people—even when family texts take a sudden turn toward produce safety!
The parasite in question appears to be Cyclospora, which causes an intestinal illness called cyclosporiasis. Texas health officials explain that Cyclospora can spread through food or water contaminated with the parasite, and past U.S. outbreaks have been linked to fresh produce including cilantro, salad mix, raspberries, basil, snow peas, and mesclun lettuce. Symptoms can include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, fatigue, nausea, and other very unpleasant stomach issues.
As for Ree’s fruit-and-veggie washing advice? That part is definitely worth following. The FDA recommends washing hands before and after handling food, cleaning kitchen surfaces, and contacting a healthcare provider if symptoms last more than three days. One small note: Health officials say washing produce is important, but it may not remove every bit of risk with Cyclospora.
So yes, Alex may be washing berries with a little extra determination this week. But when your mom texts “It’s in Texas,” what else are you supposed to do?
