Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain implicated in nationwide Salmonella outbreak

A Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain has been implicated in a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella bacteria that’s sickened at least 68 people in 10 states.

According to a report posted at the National Restaurant News Web site, an unnamed Mexican-style fast food restaurant has been identified as the source of the outbreak but what exactly caused that outbreak remains unknown. Despite that major unknown, the outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis has been declared over and no longer a threat.

Victims of the outbreak who were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they ate at that unidentified restaurant chain. Based on the agency’s research, it is believed the outbreak may be linked to produce used as ingredients in many of the products sold by the restaurant. The CDC said evidence which comes to that theory is inconclusive and merits more investigation.

Several food poisoning outbreak reported in the last year have been linked to produce like lettuce or tomatoes. The CDC the products which caused this outbreak of Salmonella poisoning were likely contaminated before they reached the restaurants where they were served.

At least 18 restaurants of the unnamed chain served contaminated food, according to the report.

Salmonella poisoning can be life-threatening to some individuals and certain strains of the bacteria often require hospitalization for treatment as recent reports indicate common antibiotics are ineffective at killing bacteria. Otherwise healthy individuals usually endure a few days of symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. These symptoms are usually more severe in children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.