31 Sickened After Salmonella Outbreak At SoCal Restaurant: Reports

VALENCIA, CA — A man is suing a Valencia restaurant after contracting salmonella as part of a larger outbreak at the business, according to his attorneys.

As of Tuesday, there were 31 confirmed cases tied to Madre Oaxacan Restaurant & Mezcaleria, The Signal reported.

Among those who fell ill was Gary Delrosario, who brought the lawsuit after eating a chicken enchilada meal at the establishment Sept. 15, according to a news release from his lawyer, Ron Simon & Associates.

Mold was touching the ice in the ice machine at the restaurant and some cutting boards had mold on them as well, the law firm said. The restaurant committed several violations detected during health inspections in 2024, including improper food storage, cooling, and separation and protection, according to the firm.

Madre had been cleared to reopen as of Tuesday and was preparing to do so, owner Ivan Vasquez told The Signal, adding violations found during an inspection the previous week had all been addressed.

“We’re hoping that everybody has recovered,” Vasquez told The Signal. “Even though we have the approval today, we’re trying to open in the most responsible way possible.”