After a two-and-a-half hour inspection on Friday, the Central District Health Department cleared the deli at Boise Co-Op deli to reopen. The deli was temporarily closed after it was linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has become one of the largest in Idaho history.
About 250 people were sickened by food that was served in the deli between June 1 and June 10. Food sources were identified as turkey, tomato and onions. It’s not clear how the food became contaminated, but cross-contamination may have played a role.
Health officials worked with deli management on a redesign of workflow to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Some of those changes included adding a sink, increasing food safety training for employees and using color-coded cutting boards to prevent cross-contamination.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection usually develop within six to 72 hours of exposure and include diarrhea, nausea, and headache. Some infections can be severe and require hospitalizations. After initial symptoms resolve, long-term complications can arise including reactive arthritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
