Journal Staff
The exact source of a food poisoning outbreak that sickened about 200 people may never be known, although contaminated hummus has been fingered as the most likely suspect, Lambton Public Health said.
Forty-five people were lab-confirmed to be infected with Salmonella and another 185 reported feeling sick after eating at the Barakat restaurant in Sarnia and Barakat food truck in Corunna in late October.
An investigation involving local, provincial and federal officials did not identify a specific food, but officials suspect cross-contamination of multiple dishes with hummus the most likely source of contamination, the health unit said.
“Many of these foodborne investigations are not conclusive in their cause, and this is one of those,” said Dr. Sudit Ranade Ranade, Lambton’s medical officer of health.
When the restaurant and food truck are ready to reopen they will be re-inspected.
“It’s important to remember that that risk of food-borne illness is always with us, and it’s not really specific to one restaurant,” Ranade said.
“Food safety protocols in restaurants — and in your home — should be followed to reduce the risk.”