Canada – Sarnia – Bad hummus most likely source of Salmonella outbreak

The Sarnia Journal

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.