Raw eggs risky in US too: Popular Charlotte restaurant sued over Salmonella

Local health types say the Toast Café in Dilworth, North Carolina, was responsible for giving at least 15 people salmonella. In all, 29 people reported being sick after dining there in late March, 2012.

Drew Falkenstein, described by WBTV as a food contamination attorney, is representing a 29-year-old Charlotte man who he said got sick after eating eggs benedict prepared by the restaurant on March 25.

Lynn Lathan, with the Mecklenburg County Department of Health, said the restaurant was doing some things that could point to an infection.

"They were making up hollandaise sauce without using a pasteurized egg. A pasteurized egg is one that has been treated so it is no longer potentially hazardous.

Once the sauce was mixed, it was allowed to sit at room temperature. We did not have proper refrigeration. We had pooling of eggs going on," Lathan said.

Robert Maynard, the managing partner of Toast Café, said in a statement: "After working alongside the health department investigating this unfortunate incident thoroughly, Toast Café is in complete compliance with the health department with a 96 percent score. Our patrons, and their health, safety and satisfaction are our top priorities."

A table of raw-egg related outbreaks in Australia, just Australia, is available at http://bites.ksu.edu/raw-egg-related-outbreaks-australia.

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About Douglas Powell

A former professor of food safety and the publisher of barfblog.com, Powell is passionate about food, has five daughters, and is an OK goaltender in pickup hockey. Download Doug’s CV here. Dr. Douglas Powell editor, barfblog.com retired professor, food safety 3/289 Annerley Rd Annerley, Queensland 4103 dpowell29@gmail.com 61478222221 I am based in Brisbane, Australia, 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time