Lombard Subway reopens after food poisoning outbreak
A Lombard Subway restaurant reopened Wednesday after being closed for more than six weeks following a food poisoning outbreak.
Operators of the eatery at 1009 E. Roosevelt Road voluntarily closed the store March 1 following reports of customers contracting shigella after eating sandwiches made there.
DuPage County Health Department officials said 123 lab-confirmed cases of shigella are associated with the outbreak at the restaurant. Thirteen people were hospitalized, and all 13 have since been discharged.
Health department officials said the store has been scrubbed down and disinfected several times since it was closed down and all food items that were in the store at the time had been discarded. Store officials said they even tossed out unused straws, cups, lids, bags, napkins and other items that couldn't be cleaned.
"At Subway restaurants, the health and safety of our customers and employees is of paramount importance and we've worked closely with the DuPage County Health Department in its investigation," said Subway spokesman Tim Stenvig. "The health department has yet to determine the cause of this incident. They have reinstated our permit and are confident in our food safety policy and procedures."
Health department spokesman Dave Hass said all employees and the owner of the store were tested twice for the shigella bacteria, and all tested negative both times before they were allowed to return to work. The owner and employees were also trained by the health department on safety and proper food handling before the store was reopened.
Hass said the final report on the outbreak is not complete and confirmed that a cause has yet to be determined.
Symptoms of shigella include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The bacteria is caused by swallowing fecal matter, health department officials said.
Many of those who became sick said they ate at the store in late February. Several individuals sickened in the shigella outbreak have filed lawsuits against Subway and the store's operators. Lawyers for those individuals expect the cases will be lumped together in a class-action lawsuit.
Subway officials at the store Wednesday said the lengthy store closure did not affect the companywide rollout of a new breakfast menu.
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