India, July 25 -- US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has sought to reassure Americans about food safety amid a nationwide Cyclospora outbreak, saying the country's food system remains secure despite concerns over contaminated produce.

Appearing on CNBC's Squawk Box, Rollins was questioned by host Andrew Ross Sorkin about growing public anxiety over whether consumers should avoid certain foods, including lettuce, following reports of thousands of Cyclospora infections.

"So, is the lettuce bad or not? Should we be eating lettuce?" Sorkin asked, noting that some people were reconsidering buying produce or ordering salads at restaurants.

"First of all, yes. The food is safe. America has the safest food in the world," Rollins responded...