Every day, we make dozens of health decisions without even thinking about them. We brush our teeth, buckle seatbelts, lock doors, wear sunglasses, and not because we expect something bad to happen, but because the consequences aren’t worth the risk. We’ve learned to adapt our everyday life to meet the needs of basic health and safety. So why do we sometimes think differently about the things we eat and drink when we hear that there may be concerns around them? We get extremely uncomfortable when we’re asked to get uncomfortable, but sometimes we need to pause and ask ourselves if this is worth the temporary discomfort or worth the risk?
Lately, two public health concerns have been making headlines close to home. The Vermont Department of Health recently notified residents that elevated levels of uranium and gross alpha radiation were found in several private wells in the Newport Center area (townofnewport.org). At the same time, Cyclospora infections linked to contaminated produce have once again made national news, at record levels.
These issues may seem unrelated, but they have something important in common: neither are detectable with your senses. You cannot see, smell, or taste uranium in well water. You cannot look at a salad and know whether it contains Cyclospora. According to the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) (www.healthvermont.gov), about one in three private wells tested in the affected Newport Center area had elevated levels of gross alpha radiation. Long-term exposure may increase the risk of kidney disease and certain cancers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov), just over 10% of people with confirmed cases of cyclospora since the median onset of June 18, 2026, have been hospitalized, and all from people who had not been traveling the 14 days before the illness started.
With overwhelming news about our life sources of water and food, it can be discouraging. However, there is ample guidance! If you have a private well, testing is the only way to know what is in your water. This is highly recommended currently. (According to the Newport Town’s website, their municipal water system is routinely tested and remains safe to drink.) If you rely on a private well, the VDH recommends testing your water at least every 5 years, you can order a gross alpha radiation screen (Kit RA) and uranium test from the Health Department Laboratory, or you can use another certified drinking water lab to test radioactive elements. There is also financial support available for testing and other concerns found here: healthvermont.gov/environment/healthy-homes/financial-assistance. The same idea applies to food. The CDC’s is clearly sharing that Cyclospora is a parasite more likely found on certain uncooked foods, the easiest options: cook them or avoid them for now.
This is where we ask ourselves, is it worth the risk? Neither the water nor food situation will give immediate signs to you that they are happening. If there is an active advisory, we should also pay attention to it. That doesn’t mean healthy eating and drinking water stops here. It means healthy fueling and hydrating becomes intentional. Summer isn’t over because bagged salads are on hiatus. Think of
cooked, canned, and frozen veggies and if needed, bottled or water! You can still roast corn, sauté peppers and onions, make a fun salad from jarred/canned beets, and even think of all the dried and freeze-dried veggies and spices: carrots, onions, cilantro, all have alternatives from the ones on the shelves right now. When it comes to berries, the freezers are full of flash frozen fruit that is always easier to use for smoothies, topping yogurt, and baking than fresh.
Many Northeast Kingdom farmers grow produce with incredible care. One of the benefits of shopping locally is being able to ask questions. Was it grown here? Is it greenhouse-grown? How should it be washed? Those conversations are part of building a healthier community. If you are growing your own, GREAT, eat up! Eating out? Don’t be afraid to ask where fresh produce comes from or choose cooked vegetables while food investigations are ongoing. Most restaurants are happy to answer questions. If they don’t know, they aren’t sure, or you aren’t sure, decide on items you think are worth it.
Good health is rarely built on fear. It is built on informed decisions. Not every warning becomes a crisis. Not every risk becomes a problem. But we do need to remember, we don’t get to choose the outcome after we’ve taken the risk. We only get to choose whether the risk is worth taking. The risks here are long-term illnesses from water sources, and potentially hospitalization from a sudden onset of prolonged diarrhea and dehydration. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do isn’t change everything; it’s just paying attention and pivoting when needed. Living your healthiest life this summer isn’t just about eating well and staying hydrated; it’s about knowing more about what you are doing, consuming, and deciding: is this worth the risk?