Investigators Probe Cake Illnesses

[cronus]

http://patch.com/california/missionviej ... -illnesses

Food Poisoning or Something Else? Investigators Probe Cake Illnesses

Health care Authorities are investigating the source of a Three Kings Day Cake that made nearly 40 people sick with unusual symptoms including hallucinations.

Made by Cholula’s Bakery in Santa Ana, the fruit cake was delivered to 10 stores including two in San Juan Capistrano and one Long Beach.

Orange County Health Care Agency Spokeswoman Nicole Stanfield confirmed to Patch that the agency is testing the cake to determine what substance sickened so many people. Until the results come back next week, the agency will not rule out the possibility that the cake was laced or that a chemical was leached into it, she confirmed.

The symptoms reported by those who ate the cake - shortness of breath, hallucinations, dizziness - are atypical of food poisoning, which typically focuses its fury on the gut.

“Assuming the ingredients were really wheat, salt, eggs, that sort of stuff, hallucinations would not be common. If you put LSD into something, you might see some of these symptoms,” Dr. Carl Schultz, a professor of emergency medicine at UC Irvine told The Orange County Register on Friday.

According to the health care agency’s website, Cholula’s Bakery has a long history of problems including 32 citations over two years for everything from cockroaches and vermin to lack of handwashing supplies for employees.

The Orange County Health Care Agency closed the bakery on Wednesday and suspended its permit, citing cockroach infestation.

(continued)

[tattuchu]

"According to the health care agency’s website, Cholula’s Bakery has a long history of problems including 32 citations over two years for everything from cockroaches and vermin to lack of handwashing supplies for employees.

The Orange County Health Care Agency closed the bakery on Wednesday and suspended its permit, citing cockroach infestation."

Ew.

[mistermack]

I don't get it. How can the place still be trading?

I never approved of the ''three strikes and you're out'' rule, but when you are consistently running a shitty food establishment, there should come a time when you are out of the game.

America does seem pretty lax on food hygiene. I saw a documentary the other day about rat catchers in New York. You wouldn't want to eat anywhere in New York after watching that.

[laklak]

Depends on where you are. Dept. of Hotels and Restaurants down here are pretty tough, and they publish the results of their inspections. When I had my food truck they inspected it at every event I worked. They just show up randomly and tear the place apart. You have to document everything you do, where you get your water, where you dump your gray water, the temperature of the sink water and levels of chlorine or bromine, where you get your food, temperature of your holding trays, how long the food is in the trays, etc. etc. etc. There's a LOT of paperwork, and if it's not in order they'll shut you down on the spot.

[AvtomatKalashnikova]

Depends on where you are. Dept. of Hotels and Restaurants down here are pretty tough, and they publish the results of their inspections. When I had my food truck they inspected it at every event I worked. They just show up randomly and tear the place apart. You have to document everything you do, where you get your water, where you dump your gray water, the temperature of the sink water and levels of chlorine or bromine, where you get your food, temperature of your holding trays, how long the food is in the trays, etc. etc. etc. There's a LOT of paperwork, and if it's not in order they'll shut you down on the spot.

Notice no mention of cockroaches. Cockroaches still allowed, if organic and free range?

[Brian Peacock]

Solanum aviculare?



https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_aviculare

[JimC]

While deciding whether to close it down, the health authority should have affixed a large sign to the entrance, reading "Enter at own risk"