US Travel News November 24, 2003

USATourist.com

Hepatitis Outbreak...

Contaminated food scare in USA!

This month, everyone in the USA was suprised to learn of a significant outbreak of Hepatitus-A infection near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Over 500 people were reported to have contracted this disease after eating in a ChiChi's Mexican restaurant near Pittsburgh. Most of the infected people were simply treated with medication, but several individuals were hospitalized and at least two died.

This was a suprising occurance because the levels of sanitation and food safety are extremely good in the USA. Everyone has near complete trust in the safety of food and water supplies in all parts of the country. Cases of food contamination are not common.

ChiChi's operates a chain of Mexican restaurants in many states and has an excellent reputation for safety and sanitation. This incidence of food contamination was completely unexpected from such a reputable restaurant. So far, such contamination has not affected any other restaurant in their chain.

The source of the contaminated food has been traced to supplies of fresh green onions imported from Mexico. US Food and Drug Agency employees have identified six Mexican agricultural producers that exported contaminated onions to the US. Some of these onions caused minor outbreaks of Hepatitus-A infection in other parts of the USA. All importation of agricultural products from these producers have been blocked until further notice.

Apparantly, the contaminated green onions were used to make salsa. That Mexican specialty is provided as a complimentary dipping sauce for corn chips at most Mexican restaurants in the USA. It normally contains raw green onions.

If you visit the USA, you need not worry about the food or water supplies. This incidence of contamination made news because of its rarity. It was an isolated and suprising lapse in our food safety, but controls have been improved to insure that it will not repeat.

Written by: Mike Leco