Point Edward, ON – Lambton Public Health (LPH) has completed the local investigation into an outbreak of Salmonellosis linked to individuals who ate at the Barakat Restaurant in Sarnia and the Barakat food truck in Corunna between October 19th to 29th, 2020.
As part ofthe investigation, multiple follow-up inspections have been conducted at this food premise and LPH is satisfied that there is no ongoing source of Salmonella infection related to this outbreak.
In working with LPH, the operators of Barakat restaurant and the Barakat food truck have been voluntarily closed since October 30th while LPH conducted its investigation. A re-inspection will be conducted at both premises when they are ready to re-open.
Throughout the investigation, several food specimens and food ingredients were sent for testing, and an epidemiological analysis of data collected from cases was conducted. Lab tests and data analysis did not point towards a specific food item to which cases could be attributed, leading public health investigators to suspect that the outbreak resulted from cross-contamination of multiple food items. Epidemiological and laboratory analysis indicated potential contamination of dishes containing hummus, however, results were not conclusive.
There are currently 45 laboratory confirmed cases associated with this outbreak. In addition, approximately 185 other individuals have reported illness with symptoms compatible with salmonellosis after eating at these food premises. Approximately 90 per cent of the exposures identified occurred between October 21st and 25th, 2020.
Lambton Public Health’s investigation into this outbreak was done in cooperation with the Ontario Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario, and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
For more information about food safety practices please visit www.lambtonpublichealth.ca. Additional information on Salmonella infections and how to prevent them can be found on the Ontario Ministry of Health website.
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