Salmonella food poisoning investigators for Shiawassee County are probing an outbreak that they say may be tied to the El Potrero Mexican Restaurant in Owosso, Michigan, west of Flint. There was nothing on the Shiawassee County Health Department website, but local newspaper The Argus-Press reported the investigation and said representatives of El Potrero said they are shocked the probe has focused on the business because of its emphasis on sanitation.
Manager Alex Aylala Friday told the newspaper that the health department’s investigation has centered on the restaurant’s salsa and canned tomatoes used in the preparation of the condiment. Previous inspections of the restaurant were not problematic, but county health workers saw a cluster of salmonellosis in people who ate at the restaurant, which belongs to a local chain. Previous reports noted 13 case patients were dealing with Salmonella infections.
Restaurants are liable for any injuries resulting from consumption of the food served to customers. Several recent outbreaks of foodborne illness stemming from restaurants around the country have highlighted the issue by making some people seriously ill. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella is the most common bacterial cause of foodborne outbreaks in the United States; approximately half of all Salmonella outbreaks occur in restaurant settings.
