The coronavirus outbreak, which has been characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, has highlighted an issue in the United States. Experts are telling people to reduce social interaction with others, called social distancing, to reduce the rate of transmission. But what if your job requires you to be around people? And what if you are paid hourly and can't afford to take time off? That's an issue for many workers, especially those in the food industry. Because of this pandemic, restaurant unpaid sick leave policies are changing now. There is no federal regulation mandating paid sick leave in this country. Sick leave is set by corporations and some states. And since 1 in 4 Americans, or 32,000,000 people, have no sick leave, they are often unwilling or simply … [Read more...]
Seattle Evergreen Restaurants E. coli Outbreak Has Sickened Thirteen
The Seattle Evergreen restaurants E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has now sickened 13 people according to a press release issued by the Seattle King County Health Department. The outbreak is associated with six Evergreen restaurants, an increase of two restaurants since the outbreak was first announced on November 26, 2019. Three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The six restaurants have had excellent inspection reports in the past. They are Evergreen restaurants located in Pioneer Square at 106 1st Avenue South in Seattle; the University District at 4609 Village Ter Northeast in Seattle; Downtown at 823 3rd Avenue in Seattle; Chinatown-International District at 504 5th Avenue South in Seattle; Sammamish Highlands at 600 228th Avenue Northeast in Sammamish; and … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Doug Saul’s Bar-B-Que in Nashville, NC Sickens 14
A Salmonella outbreak Doug Saul's Bar-B-Que & Seafood restaurant located in Nashville, North Carolina has sickened at least 14 people, according to the Nash County Health Department. Ten of those people named the restaurant as a source of some of the food they ate before they got sick. That facility is located at 813 Western Avenue in Nashville. The Nash County Health Department immediately suspended the food establishment operating permit of the restaurant, stating that there were "conditions present constituting an imminent health hazard." The North Carolina Department of Agriculture Food Protection Division found Salmonella in equipment and food that is "likely to cause an immediate threat of serious adverse health effects." This finding was reported as part of an … [Read more...]
Alleged Outbreak at Pita Hot in Fullerton, CA Closes Restaurant
Pita Hot, a restaurant in Fullerton, California, has been closed twice by the Orange County Health Agency in the last few weeks because of a suspected food poisoning outbreak. All information about this outbreak has been contained in restaurant inspection reports. The inspection report specifically names norovirus, but there is no information about whether or not any ill persons have tested positive for that pathogen. The site I Was Poisoned received many reports of illness by people visiting the restaurant. The restaurant was closed on June 19, 2019 by health inspectors. They were sent to the facility because of alleged foodborne illness complaints. The reason for the closure was: On-Going Foodborne Illness. One of the action items named in that report is: "Complete the … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Grille at Gold Dust West in Nevada Sickens 17
A Salmonella outbreak at Grille at Gold Dust West in Elko, Nevada has sickened at least 17 people, according to news reports. There is no information about this outbreak on the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health. We don't know what type of Salmonella made people sick, and there is no information about how the illnesses may have been transmitted. We also do not know if anyone has been hospitalized because their illness is severe. The cause of the outbreak has not been determined. The restaurant is not closed and the company is cooperating with the investigation. Salmonella outbreaks have been linked to everything from chicken to turkey to ground beef to leafy greens and eggs in the past. Food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker, who has represented many people sickened … [Read more...]
Almanza’s Restaurant in Garden City, CO Closed By Officials
Almanza's restaurant at 2502 8th Avenue in Garden City, Colorado has been closed bye the Board of Weld County Commissioners. The restaurant will remain closed until it fixes "repeated health code violations." The Weld County Department of Public Health requested the closure. Chairwoman of the Board, Barbara Kirkmeyer, told the Greeley Tribune that the restaurant needs to hire a food safety consultant, train all staff in food safety, and require the manager and owner to get food protection manager certification. The restaurant has had issues with inspections in the past. The most recent inspection garnered nine critical and two non-critical health code violations. The restaurant was closed twice in 2017 because the sinks in the women's restrooms and the kitchen were not working … [Read more...]
Possible Food Poisoning Outbreak at Barbarie’s Black Angus Grill in Danbury, CT
Officials are investigating a possible food poisoning outbreak at Barbarie's Black Angus Grill at 5 Eagle Road in Danbury, Connecticut, according to news report. People started getting sick after they allegedly ate at that facility last weekend. The City of Danbury Health Department worked with staff at the restaurant this week to see if they could find the source of the illnesses, but they aren't sure that the illnesses can be linked to the restaurant. According to the New Haven Register, Lisa Morrissey, Danbury Health and Human Services Director said "Investigators have not determined that Black Angus was the source of any of the complainants' food poisoning." She continued, "Black Angus has been very compliant and I know they did their own deep clean of the restaurant and are … [Read more...]
History of Food Poisoning Outbreaks Linked to Lettuce and Other Leafy Greens is Long
An ongoing E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that may be associated with romaine lettuce has sickened at least 17 people in the United States and 41 people in Canada. Both the CDC and the Public Health Agency of Canada have announced these outbreaks that may be related. In Canada, a link has been made to that type of leafy green, but officials in the United States are still investigating the source. Public health officials in this country are not releasing much information, beyond the case count by state and the fact that they are investigating the outbreak. In Canada, officials are recommending that people who live in five provinces avoid romaine lettuce, but no such recommendation has been made in the U.S. This is not the first time lettuce has been linked to a serious food poisoning … [Read more...]
CDC Issues Report About 2016 Campylobacter Outbreak in Clark County, WA
A Campylobacter outbreak in Clark County, Washington in 2016 was associated with undercooked chicken liver mousse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Notes from the Field about that outbreak in last week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). On July 13, 2016, Clark County Public Health received a report of diarrheal illness in four of seven members of one party who ate at a local restaurant earlier that month. The report was received through an online and phone reported system. Five people interviewed said their only shared exposure was that restaurant meal. CCPH closed the restaurant kitchen on July 13, 2016, and began an investigation. The restaurant was not named, and news of the outbreak was not released to the public. This outbreak was … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Associated With Restaurant in Easton, MA
A Salmonella outbreak is being investigated in Eaton, Massachusetts, Ann Scales of the Massachusetts Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. The investigation began on Monday, September 25, 2017. The MDH is working with the Easton Board of Health to collect information to determine the source. The outbreak is associated with a restaurant. Other news outlets have mentioned the restaurant by name, but we will not do that until there is confirmation from a government source. Ms. Scales told us, "We do not advertise the names of restaurants under investigation unless there is reason to believe there is an on-going health threat. In this situation, while these reports certainly led us to start an investigation, we really do not have enough information at this point to believe … [Read more...]
