Exclusive | Hold the lettuce! How NYC eateries are keeping diners safe as crappy cyclospora crisis rumbles on

Like NYC restaurant owners don’t have enough s–t to deal with.There’s tariffs and supply chain issues, inflation and rising rents — now, these mostly-small business operators are left holding the proverbial bag of salad, as customer fears over the explosive diarrhea epidemic create a new, unwanted set of nasty headaches.Talk about a crappy situation.

As cases of the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis skyrocket, anyone serving lettuce and other fresh vegetables — said to be the culprit, but parsley and cilantro are also now potentially being blamed — must now not only waste precious time grilling their suppliers, but also answer anxious questions as diners dither over whether to brave dishes with leafy greens and herbs.“There might be more than one source — we just have to keep looking,” NYSDOH commissioner Dr.

Jim McDonald announced this week, calming absolutely no fears.The continued high-level uncertainty over the stinky source is trickling down in already-stressed kitchens across the five boroughs — from high-end eateries to everyday delis.On W.37th St.

at the wagyu-focused omakase spot Togyushi, known for nine-course feasts made with a bounty of ingredients featuring fresh fish and vegetables alike, staff have diligently checking their sources, while staying glued to the latest news on the smelly scourge.“As soon as we learned, we immediately contacted our suppliers to verify the origin and lot information of any potentially affected produce,” Executive Chef Kenichiro Yamasaki told The Post.“The most important step is maintaining close communication with trusted suppliers and carefully managing inventory,” Yamasaki said.

A kitchen can stay as clean as it wants — but if produce comes in contaminated, it’s still a crapshoot.“One misconception is that food safety begins and ends in the kitchen,” Yamasaki said.“The process actually starts at the farm level and continues through harvesting, distribution, storage, and tra...