3 takeaways:

• Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness that has appeared in headlines across the country recently.
• The illness is caused when people eat food or drink water that is contaminated with fecal matter.
• All produce and vegetables at Round House Café are thoroughly cleaned and prepared before being served.

With a wide array of fruits and vegetables and an ample supply of greens, the Round House Café in the Two Waters complex in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community continues to help guide the people toward heathier eating habits, regardless of the recent cyclospora outbreak.

Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. This parasite may be found in food or water that has come into contact with fecal matter.

Fatigue, loss of appetite and watery diarrhea are a few of the symptoms caused by cyclospora. Illness can begin as early as two days or as long as two weeks after becoming infected. Without treatment, the symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to a month or longer.

In most cases, the illness is not life-threatening; however, cyclosporiasis can still impact a person’s overall health and wellness. If you have symptoms, contact your healthcare provider to be tested.

In mid-July, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced to the public their findings on a cyclosporiasis outbreak caused by prepackaged iceberg lettuce sourced from Taylor Farms in central Mexico. The lettuce was supplied to grocery stores and restaurants. Infections from the lettuce began to spread across the country, leading to two deaths in Michigan. As of Aug. 5, nearly 6,400 illnesses have been reported in 15 states, according to the CDC. Arizona was not among those states as of that date.

Taco Bell, the popular fast-food chain, reported that their iceberg lettuce was from Taylor Farms and has since properly disposed of their inventory. Recently, Taco Bell published a press release which welcomed guests back and revealed that it is no longer serving that brand of lettuce.

CDC officials have strongly advised restaurants and homeowners to dispose of all prepackaged Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce. The CDC also suggests cutting out damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables, as well as refrigerating cut or cooked fruits and vegetables.

People can help reduce the spread of the cyclospora parasite by washing their hands before every meal, staying hydrated and cooking produce to a temperature of at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have questions about cyclosporiasis cases in a particular state, the CDC recommends calling that state’s health department.

As always, the Round House Café staff pays close attention to food safety.

“All of our fresh produce is washed using a vegetable wash before being prepared and served,” said Aramark Workplace Hospitality General Manager Dan Barolli. “Our corporate food safety team also closely monitors the Food and Drug Administration and supplier recall notices and immediately notifies us if any products we receive are affected.”

Barolli added, “At Round House, we purchase whole produce and cut and prepare our fruits and vegetables in-house each day, which eliminates the risks associated with receiving precut produce from outside processors.”

The next time you’re hankering for breakfast or lunch from the café, you can rest easy knowing all their ingredients are prepared fresh, thoroughly cleaned and, of course, delicious.

“We remain committed to following strict food safety protocols and providing our guests with fresh, safe and high-quality meals every day,” finished Barolli.

To stay up to date on all things Round House Café, individuals can call (480) 362-5537.