San Diego Restaurant Linked To Salmonella Outbreak Reopens

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego restaurant recently linked to a salmonella outbreak has reopened.

As of May 8, the county had recorded 37 probable and confirmed cases of people getting sick with salmonella after eating food between April 25 through May 1 at the Aladdin Mediterranean Café in the Clairemont area of San Diego, according to San Diego County's Environmental Health and Quality Department.

The cases involved people between 1 and 90 years old, according to the county. Nine of those sickened were hospitalized.

Aladdin Mediterranean Café voluntarily closed on May 1 so county officials could conduct testing to determine the source of the outbreak.

"The source of the salmonella outbreak has not been identified and the investigation is ongoing," officials said on May 8. "The county continues to work closely with the restaurant operator. The restaurant will remain closed until it is safe to operate, and when its management is ready to reopen."

Aladdin Mediterranean Café announced Monday on social media that the restaurant had reopened.

"Since then (May 1), the health department has performed multiple, extensive health inspections and interviews for our staff," the post said. "The health department has now concluded its testing and was unable to determine the source of the outbreak. As such, Aladdin has been given the approval to re-open.

"We want to emphasize that our customers' health and safety is our number one priority," the post continued. "In the past 32 years that we have been in business, we have always maintained an A grade from the health department. We take cleanliness very seriously and understand the responsibility that comes with preparing and serving food to our community members. Serving high quality, fresh food is the ethos of our business, which is central in everything we do at Aladdin."

At least two lawsuits were filed on behalf of customers who said they were sickened after eating at the establishment.

The restaurant has had at least seven prior violations "for failing to properly maintain or regulate holding temperatures for the food it served in the past," according to Ron Simon, an attorney representing two people who were named in the first lawsuit filed against the restaurant.

"Through this and other lawsuits we are going to make sure that all of the victims in this outbreak are fairly and fully compensated for their injuries, and that Aladdin Mediterranean Café takes steps to prevent this from ever happening again," Simon said in a statement.

Salmonella symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea that might have blood or mucous, abdominal cramps and fever.

Symptoms typically begin 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Illness from salmonella can last four to seven days, but most people recover without treatment, county health officials said.

Previous coverage:

• More Sick, Hospitalized After Salmonella Outbreak At Restaurant
• Lawsuits Filed Against Restaurant Linked To Salmonella Outbreak
• 5 Hospitalized In Salmonella Outbreak Linked To San Diego Restaurant