King County Public Health (KCPH) announced that as of September 3, 2015, a total of ten persons were sickened in an E. coli O157 food poisoning outbreak linked to local food vendor, Los Chilangos. Three of those sickened required hospitalization. Based on patient interviews, KCPH determined that those who became ill had eaten food prepared by Los Chilangos prior to about August 21, 2015. As a result, Los Chilangos was ordered to cease operations, but reopened to serve food on September 2, 2015.
According to KCPH, Los Chilangos serves food at seven farmers markets in King and Snohomish Counties, operates two food trucks, and caters events. Los Chilangos utilizes a shared kitchen space, referred to as a commissary kitchen to prepare its food. The kitchen that Los Chilangos was using at the time of the outbreak was the Eastside Commercial Kitchen, where they shared space and equipment with about a dozen other food businesses.
A cease and desist order for the Eastside Commercial Kitchen was issued by a health officer on August 27, 2015, due to the kitchen’s condition and potential causing cross contamination. Because the kitchen was deemed an imminent health hazard by KCPH, all food vendors using this kitchen were also told to cease operations. Eastside Commercial Kitchen will be required to take corrective action.
KCPH Allows Los Chilangos To Reopen On September 2, 2015
The KCPH allowed Los Chilangos to serve food again on September 2, 2015 stating that –
“As of today at 12:00 pm, Los Chilangos was reopened. The business has taken all actions that the health department has required to resume safe operations going forward. Some of the key steps include:
• Disposed of all food that could have potentially been a source of the outbreak
• Assured that all food workers are not ill
• Identified and signed a contract with a new commissary, which we have approved following a site inspection
• Washed, rinsed and sanitized all of their equipment before moving it to the new commissary.
• Made all staff available for additional food safety education from public health inspectors including sanitation, cross contamination, and cold and hot holding”
About E. coli
E. coli O157:H7 is a bacterial pathogen capable of causing a potentially fatal infection. Symptoms of the illness can include severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. The diarrhea may become bloody and can lead to dehydration. There is usually little or no fever. The infection (and its symptoms) will vary from individual to individual, ranging from a mild to a life-threatening illness. Some patients may develop a type of kidney failure know as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Symptoms of E. coli food poisoning typically begin 3-4 days after eating a contaminated food; however, symptoms may occur anywhere from 1 to 10 days following pathogen exposure.
E. coli Food Poisoning Lawsuit Help
The Weinberg Law Firm assists victims of food poisoning outbreaks nationwide. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with E. coli food poisoning and have a question regarding a food poisoning lawsuit, you can request a free legal case evaluation by submitting the form found on this page. You can also contact our lawyers by calling our law firm toll free at 1- 877-934-6274. Our phones are answered 24/7.
