Published in the July 12, 2018 edition
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
RESTAURANT CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE PER NORTH READING BOARD OF HEALTH
NORTH READING — Following a Salmonella outbreak at Kitty’s Restaurant and Lounge, 123 Main St., the restaurant was ordered closed on Monday, July 9 until further notice by North Reading Director of Public Health Robert F. Bracey.
Bracey has been actively investigating the outbreak of this communicable disease since he was notified by the state Department of Public Health (DPH) on Tuesday, July 3 of nine confirmed illnesses and 30 suspected illnesses stemming from a likely source of antipasto salad served at the restaurant on Sunday, June 23 and again on June 25.
An additional dozen complaints are still being investigated, including cases from new dates of June 28 and July 7, the Transcript has learned.
Symptoms of salmonellosis take anywhere from 12 to 72 hours to develop after exposure and it takes several days for lab tests to confirm the presence of the germ, followed by the time it takes for state and local officials to compile data from patients and investigate the incident at the suspected source.
These factors accounted for the time lag between the first suspected date of exposure to Salmonella and the public disclosure of the incidents by the state DPH to the town’s Health Department on July 3, and the town’s public disclosure of the incident in a post to the town’s website on Friday evening, July 6.
Bracey and the North Reading Health Department ordered Kitty’s to close on Thursday, July 5 in order to undergo a thorough cleaning and sanitation. After doing so to their initial satisfaction Kitty’s was allowed to re-open on Friday, July 6 and remained opened over the weekend.
In conjunction with the July 5 cleaning, Bracey also stated in his release to the Transcript and post on the town’s website that “…the Board of Health, working with the State Division of Epidemiology and Immunization, also provided information and guidance to Kitty’s management to test 46 employees who may have been working during the outbreak. All tested employees must be cleared by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health before being able to return to work.”
Braces also stated in his July 6 release that during the Board of Health’s initial investigation on July 3, they worked “with the restaurant owners to try to determine how the food was contaminated. The investigation included determining the source of the food, how the food was prepared, who prepared it, how it was served, and who it was served to.”
Closure after violation of order
Following up on the investigation, Bracey returned to Kitty’s on Monday, July 9 to review additional complaints received about the restaurant and also conducted another on-site inspection, according to an updated statement sent to the Transcript on Tuesday.
“The inspection revealed several food safety and sanitation concerns relating to unsanitary conditions, cross contamination and time and temperature abuse,” according to the statement. “It also indicated that the restaurant had not complied with the Health Department’s original orders of July 5, and several employees prohibited from working from the Salmonella incident from June 23-25 were working on site and preparing food. Those employees had not been cleared to return to work by either the Massachusetts Department of Public Health or the North Reading Health Department.”
It further stated: “In addition to the antipasto salad, the restaurant’s house salad dressing was identified as a potential source of contamination and is being tested.”
Based on Monday’s investigation, the following action was taken by the North Reading Health Department: “In the interest of protecting the public health due to the potential of a secondary outbreak, and in response to the establishment’s failure to comply with the orders of the North Reading Health Department, on July 9 the establishment was ordered closed until further notice. The restaurant was ordered to clean/sanitize its facilities and all remaining staff will be required to be tested and cleared prior to returning to work.”
Additionally, the town’s Health Department pledged to continue to “work closely with the managers and owners of the establishment as well as with officials from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Massachusetts Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences on this matter.”
Do not consume leftovers
As a precautionary measure, the Health Department is recommending that any leftover antipasto salad or house dressing that may have been taken home by the public not be consumed. This recommendation also applies to any takeout antipasto salad, salad dressing or house dressing and any packaged house salad dressing purchased from Kitty’s after June 1.
“If you have an unopened bottle of house salad dressing in your home, you are asked to contact the Health Department so that it may potentially be tested,” the press release states while stressing that this action is “a precautionary recommendation while the Health Department continues its investigation.”
Those with any questions or concerns relating to this matter are asked to contact the North Reading Health Department at 978-357-5242 or email: bbracey@northreadingma.gov.
For additional updates on this matter the public may visit the town’s website at https://www.northreadingma.gov/health-department.
The North Reading Heath Department and Health Director Bracey worked in conjunction with Police Chief/Public Safety Director Michael P. Murphy and Town Administrator Michael P. Gilleberto in investigating this matter.
Elsewhere in today’s paper, the Transcript is also publishing a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) from the state DPH to further educate the public about Salmonella and steps that can be taken to avoid its spread.
