Kitty’s Restaurant in North Reading, Massachusetts, has closed after more complaints in a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 19 people. The restaurant, located at 123 Main Street, has been ordered by the North Reading Health Department to close until further notice.
As of Thursday, July 12, 2018, there are 19 confirmed cases of Salmonella. Several of Kitty’s restaurant employees are among those sickened.
The Health Department started getting complaints about illness on July 3, 2018. The outbreak is believed to have started on June 23, 2018. Officials narrowed down the food to the antipasto salad. On July 5, with more information about more illnesses that occurred after visits to the restaurant on June 25, the Board of Health recommended that the restaurant closed. The owners complied and then reopened on July 6.
Contact attorney Fred Pritzker at 1-888-377-8900.
Food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker, who has represented many clients sickened with Salmonella infections after eating at restaurants, said, “Restaurants are required to serve food that is safe to eat and that will not make people sick. Complications of this infection can be serious.”
More complaints were issued against Kitty’s Restaurant on July 9. The North Reading Health Department then conducted an onsite inspection, which revealed several food safety and sanitation concerns. The problems included unsanitary conditions, cross-contamination, and temperature abuse. The inspection also found that the restaurant had not complied with the Health Department original orders issued on July 5, and several employees that were prohibited from working at that time were preparing food on-site. At that time, officials also identified the restaurant’s house salad dressing as a potential source of contamination.
So on July 9, 2018, the restaurant was ordered closed. All remaining staff must be tested, with 2 negative results 24 hours apart, and cleared by a doctor before they can return to work.
Officials recommend that consumers not eat any leftover antipasto salad or house dressing, purchased takeout antipasto or salad or house dressing, or purchased packaged house salad dressing from this establishment that was bought after June 1, 2018. If you have an unopened bottle of house salad dressing, please contact the Health Department so it may be tested. And if you have been sick with vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and a fever after eating at Kitty’s Restaurant, see your doctor.
