The Italian Garden restaurant remains open while the Kansas Department of Agriculture investigates reports of customers becoming ill after eating at the restaurant. The owners have reportedly changed to another cheese supplier, and any violations found in the initial investigation of the restaurant have been corrected.
“Right now what we’re doing is contacting patrons who ate at the Italian Garden from June 12 to the 25,” said Maggie Thompson, public information officer for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
As of Wednesday, 85 customers have been contacted and 13 possible illnesses have been discovered.
A bacterial toxin was found when inspectors collected and tested a food sample after the initial report.
“What they’re working on now is trying to determine if something came into the restaurant with that toxin or if something happened at the restaurant to introduce the toxin,” Thompson said.
The owners of the restaurant have been cooperative in helping with the investigation, she said, providing information so the customers can be contacted.
The illness associated with the toxin is very abrupt, with symptoms appearing from within 30 minutes to 8 hours. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and severe nausea and lasts a day or less.
“It doesn’t require any real treatment, other than rest and fluids,” Thompson said.
The final report should take about a month.
madpoet (anonymous) says...
What a blow to a new restaurant trying to get customers. With all the reports of poor food manufactoring practices lately, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for now. I bet right now would be the best time to eat there since the Health Dept. just went over them with a fine tooth comb.
July 16, 2009 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
deluvly1 (anonymous) says...
I have eaten there, I was very unimpressed, but neither my friend nor I got sick. It is too bad, with times as they are, for this to happen with a new businesses. It perhaps goes to show how important it is to make food---both local and imported---meet a standard for cleanliness and safety. I wish them well. I hope that they prosper and that their menu improves. I've never been a fan for a salad that consisted of 98% wilted lettuce leaves.
July 16, 2009 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
WE ARE GOING TO TRY THEM OUT THIS WEEKEND. I have heard nothing but good comments until now. Like you say, what better time to go than right after food inspections?
I agree madpoet.
July 16, 2009 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
How unfortunate for a new restaurant to experience something like this. I'm glad to see the health department was right on top of things. I hope it was just the cheese. No doubt they will change manufacturers for good.
I had not yet tried them out since whenever I thought of it, the lines were going around the building and I went elsewhere. Then the air conditioning was out one night. I have since heard from two friends who said the same thing that deluvly said -- the salad was not fresh.
I'm curious about what the toxin was and what food sample was tested. What violations were found in the initial investigation?
July 16, 2009 at 4:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sciguy (anonymous) says...
I ate at IG today, and the Tortellini ala Pana was excellent.
How many restaurants around here serve that shredded iceberg salad mix that they all buy from someplace like Evco? Compared to THAT, the salad at IG is gourmet.
I wouldn't worry too much about a minor problem, especially when the owners are proactive about fixing the problem. By the way, check out your favorite restaurants under "Inspection Search" at http://www.ksfoodsafety.org/ . You might be surprised.
July 16, 2009 at 8:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
I ate at this restaurant about four weeks ago and LOVED it...especially the tiramisu!!!! Ironically, I had encountered some kind of toxin or virus the day before and was finally feeling well enough to eat again. I'm fairly certain there was a virus going around town at that time. Everyone in our group of six loved the food, no one became ill and we will all be eating there again as the budget allows.
Did I mention their tiramisu?
July 16, 2009 at 9:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnDoe (anonymous) says...
I've been there a few times already and quite likely during that time window. Everything was delicious and I felt fine afterwards. I ate too much but that was my own fault! Sounds like an isolated incident.
July 16, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
"Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and severe nausea and lasts a day or less."
I have a similar experience every time I go to Taco Bell. I keep going back though, cuz where else am I goin' ta go to get Mexican food in this one horse town. Where did all the horses go anyway? The taco meat did taste funny last time I was at The Bell(as I call it). What's a bell got to do with tacos anyway? Are they ever going to build that new Wendy's? I hear the restrooms are going to be AWESOME!!!! Maybe we could get some stimulus moneys to help the rebuild. Why isn't the old Wendy's there anymore? I don't remember. Katrina? Maybe Jimmy Carter could help build the new one. We are going to have to get pics of the restrooms for the kiosk. Maybe Sarah Palin could come and do the ribbon cutting. We could get a shot of her in the restroom for the kiosk, you know, washing her hands. Oh, I got an idea! I think an Italian restaurant would do great in this town. What do you guys think?
Seriously R. Folks
July 16, 2009 at 10:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Deepthoughts (anonymous) says...
We have been wanting to try out IG as well, but had not gotten around to it. I had heard nothing, but good things until now as well. But as other posters pointed out, this would be the best time to go.
I have noticed some restaurants (local and elsewhere) that seem to be sacrificing quality food for a cheap alternative during these tougher times. I know money is tight, but a bad experience at a restaurant usually means I don't go back for quite some time. If I'm going to spend the money to go out to eat, please serve quality.
July 17, 2009 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
seriouslyfolks
I have not heard whether the ground at the new sight for the new Wendys has been deemed free from toxic contamination, so construction can begin.
The old Wendys was razed to make way for a new one, but the ground was found to be contaminated with toxic contaminates. Years ago there was a gas station on that property and the underground tanks leaked leaded gasoline into the ground, contaminating it. And if the contaminates, which may be lead and benzine, stayed in the ground and are present some 40 to 45 years after the gas station was torn down, who knows how long the ground will be contaminated. Oh, and just some info for the health nuts, one of the ingredients in gasoline is also benzine, one of the by products in tobacco smoke or shs that is purported to cause cancer !
July 17, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz4ItI...
July 17, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Well crack, here we go again.
Using your protectionest logic of protecting the public from harm. Any businesses, that invites the public to enter there, should banned from building any public establishment on the land or ground that the old Wendys occupied, until such time the land and all adjacent lands and property can be certified as being free from any and all toxic contaminates that may be deemed harmful to the publics health. And that includes the building of a new fabulous Wendys, even if it will be owned by the Queen of bans herself.
Crack, your are such a hypocrite, banning smoking and saying eating at a place that may be contaminated with cancer causing benzine, the same thing in tobacco products and shs, and claiming that a public eatery, etc. that may be harmful to you and others, is a necessary and benificial thing ! You are definately such a hypocrite. Crack, you are in serious need of counseling or mental diagnosis and treatment.
July 17, 2009 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Dido1969 (anonymous) says...
Geez, Crack, give it a rest, I was so disappointed to see you name on this discussion.
Yes, Wendy’s™ is still planning on rebuilding, they meant to do so immediately, but the local and state authorities piddled around so long that the company moved on and rebuilding in Emporia went to the bottom of the list. It seems they have their own construction/remodeling company and they have since moved on to other parts of the country where the local bureaucrats were actually interested in opening---and keeping---business in their towns.
If you’ve been to Italy you know that salad is a major part of a meal, but the salads at the local “Gardens” is as bland as it can be, wilted lettuce, a tiny slice of cucumber, an even tinier slice of “wax” tomato. Even a big chain such as Olive Garden puts out a great salad, everything fresh, in fairly large cuts so if someone doesn’t like onion, for instance, they can eat around it. Tuscan peppers, onion, olives, etc. make a great salad and seconds are generally free… and hopefully Emporia’s “Italian” restaurant will listen and learn.
July 17, 2009 at 1:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
"but the local and state authorities piddled around so long that the company moved on and rebuilding in Emporia went to the bottom of the list."
Contact Jimmy Carter and see if he can help.
"If you’ve been to Italy you know that salad is a major part of a meal"
Italian "thin mint" salads are the BIZomb!
Seriously
R.
Folks
July 17, 2009 at 1:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Dido1969 (anonymous) says...
Wow, silly silly temper! Didn't have our bran today, so decided to spew orally?
...had nadda to do with "SHS" just had to do with a circumlocutious doofus who always has an opinion and a nasty attitude...much like yours.
July 17, 2009 at 2:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Some times eating Taco Bell harms more than just the one eating it. SHB(second hand beans). It the second leading cause of rolling down windows, just after heat. My eyes tear up just thinking about it.
Seriously
R.
Folks
July 17, 2009 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Seriously r. Folks
You are a gas!
July 17, 2009 at 2:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )