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Salmonella Outbreak Solved
Reported by: Rachel Cox
Monday, Oct 6, 2008 @09:25pm CST
Source of Article: http://myhighplains.com/content/fulltext/?cid=25851
AMARILLO ---
Health officials say the hot water bath that pitchers of syrup were kept in
to keep them warm was contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria. That contaminated
water actually stayed on the outside of the pitchers and was then spread to
customers. Twenty-five people contracted Salmonella from the IHOP on Western.
IHOP officials say for over thirty years this has been the process used to
warm their syrup and they've never had problems until now. The Amarillo
Health Department conducted the investigation. They found that once the water
was contaminated, the Salmonella was transferred on the outside of the
pitchers to both customers and employees. Before they can re-open their
doors, IHOP must eliminate that syrup process and sanitize the entire
building. The IHOP closed its doors three different times hoping to find out
why its employees and customers kept getting sick. IHOP officials tell us now
this process has been eliminated in all their locations. Right now the IHOP
on Western will remained closed until the entire building is cleaned. The
IHOP on Ross will remain open and there have been no reported cases at that
restaurant. IHOP officials tell us the location on Western will open as soon
as everything has been sterilized and cleaned. After they open the Health
Department will continue to test for Salmonella and make sure the new safe
food processes are carried out correctly.
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