County Issues Health Alert to Diners

Los Angeles County health officials issued a salmonella alert Wednesday after three diners at a Beverly Hills restaurant became ill after eating food contaminated by the bacteria.

The alert was issued to prevent “the spread of salmonellosis between family members or from those whose occupation may expose others to the disease, such as food handlers, healthcare workers and child-care workers, and to remind people that all egg dishes need to be fully cooked,” said Jonathan Fielding, public health director of Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles County Health Services Department also wants to interview other diners who ate at Il Fornaio restaurant at 310 N. Beverly Drive between July 12 and 16 and who may have become ill.

Two of the three people known to have gotten salmonellosis were hospitalized but have since been released, officials said. Restaurant officials declined to comment on the alert.

“The restaurant has been inspected by public health and is cooperating by correcting problems that may have contributed to the outbreak,” the alert said. “Raw and uncooked eggs were used in some recipes.”

After a visit to the restaurant Wednesday, Fielding said that the problem appeared to have been taken care of, but that health officials still hoped to collect more information from others who may have gotten ill but did not report their symptoms.

The incubation period for salmonellosis is generally short, from one to three days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps.

Diners who experienced those symptoms after eating at the restaurant during that time period are asked to contact the health department at (213) 240-7941.

Patrons who did not get ill do not need to contact officials.

Salmonella alerts are relatively rare. The last time county health officials announced such an alert was in March 2004.