If your cilantro hails from Mexico, consider throwing it out. On July 27, U.S. health officials put a ban on importing the green after finding human feces and toilet paper in South-of-the-border herb fields—a disgusting discovery that has now been linked to hundreds of illnesses among Americans since 2012.

To prevent future cases of the parasitic illness cyclosporiasis, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has detained at the border Mexican cilantro that was harvested since April, but has only just declared an official import ban. 

Cyclosporiasis causes diarrhea and explosive bowl movements, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and affected at least 304 people in 19 states last year. More than 64 percent of those cases were reported in Texas in June and July. No deaths have been reported, though the CDC notes that seven people have been hospitalized.

A closer look at farms in Puebla, Mexico revealed that eight out of 11 farms did not provide bathrooms with soap, toilet paper, or running water. Some didn't provide a restroom at all. "The most likely routes of contamination of fresh cilantro are contact with the parasite shed from the intestinal tract of humans affecting the growing fields, harvesting, processing, or packing activities or contamination with the parasite through contaminated irrigation water, contaminated crop protectant sprays, or contaminated wash waters," the FDA alert says.

Before you freak out, we suggest checking the country of origin on your herbs. While many markets and restaurants source their greens from Mexico, many others purchase from California. But if this news totally grosses you out either way, you might wanna toss the bunch altogether.

UPDATE: July 30, 9:30 a.m.

Walmart and Kroger, two of the largest grocery chains in the country, are pulling cilantro from store shelves due to the human feces concern. A Walmart representative adamently notes to Bloomberg that while the company's cilantro supplier hails from Puebla, Mexico—where the soiled crops were found—it was not affected by the malpractice. Kroger, however, is recalling cilantro at about 440 stores (mainly in the Southeast) and plans to swiftly restock with herbs from other regions.

UPDATE: August 3, 5:30 p.m.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, a total of 358 people have become ill with cyclosporiasis this year, with more than 56 percent occurring on or after May 1, in 26 states. Clusters of these cases have been identified in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia with cilantro as the primary suspect for causing sickness. Investigations are ongoing, and more information about the parasitic illness are available on the CDC website; however we must urge you to be wary of your cilantro purchases. If it hails from Mexico, consider tossing the bunch and searching for herbs grown in California or other domestic regions.

Follow Delish on Instagram.