So, what is it with Mexican-style Restaurants and Foodborne Illnesses – E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella and Hepatitis A

I went out to dinner with my family at our favorite local Mexican-style restaurant, but the thought of the resent Salmonella outbreak near the southern border of – Washington – was not far from my mind.  Clark County Public Health officials have confirmed 13 cases of Salmonella virchow food poisoning and 33 probable cases. Three people have been hospitalized after eating at On the Border restaurant, located at 1505 S.E. 164th Avenue in Vancouver, Washington. Two of them have thankfully been released.  Also, not far from my mind is the not too small number of similar outbreaks that I have been involved in in the last dozen years.

E. coli O157:H7

• Habaneros E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Missouri (2003)

• Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Washington (2008)

• Taco John’s E. coli Outbreak Lawsuits – Iowa and Minnesota (2006)

Shigella

• Viva Mexico Shigella Outbreak Lawsuits – California (2000)

• Senor Felix 5-Layer Dip Shigella Outbreak Lawsuits – Western States (2000)

• Filiberto’s Shigella Outbreak Lawsuit – California (2006)

Salmonella

• Café Santa Fe Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuit – Arkansas (2005)

• Casa Lopez Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuits – Ohio (2010)

• Chili’s Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuits – Illinois (2003)

• Los Dos Amigos Mexican Restaurant Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuits – Oregon (2010)

• San Antonio Taco Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuits – Tennessee (2000)

• Taco Bell Salmonella Hartford and Baildon Outbreak Lawsuits – Nationwide (2010)

• Taco Bell Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuits – Multistate (2012)

Hepatitis A

• Chi-Chi’s Hepatitis A Outbreak Lawsuits – Pennsylvania (2003)

• Chipotle Grill Hepatitis A Outbreak Lawsuits – California (2008)

• Taco Bell Hepatitis A Outbreak Lawsuits – Florida (2000)

I ordered the margarita.  For my Epi friends, I am being the control.