Salmonella linked to St. Charles Portillo’s

Kane County Health Department officials are urging area residents to be on the lookout for signs of food poisoning if they’ve recently eaten at the Portillo’s restaurant in St. Charles.

The restaurant was shuttered for a deep cleaning Monday night after public health officials tracked a rare outbreak of salmonella typhimurium back to the restaurant. Restaurant employees have been blocked from returning to work until they have two negative tests for the salmonella strain. All preprepared food at the restaurant was also destroyed Monday night except for some samples taken for testing by the health department. No specific food item has been identified as the source of the illness yet.

The restaurant reopened Tuesday morning with employees from other Portillo’s restaurants, said Kane County Health Department Executive Director Paul Kuehnert.

Ten cases of the rare strain were reported to health officials in northeastern Illinois during the past two weeks. Seven of the cases occurred in Kane County.

Most people infected with the salmonella strain will experience diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 72 hours of the infection. The illness can last up to seven days. While most people recover without medical treatment, the health department is asking residents who experience those symptoms to report them to a doctor so they can track the outbreak.

“We have completely sanitized the store and all employees will be tested and will return to work only after they’ve received a clean bill of health,” Portillos announced in a written statement. “Portillo’s takes deep pride in our entire operation, and we are committed to maintaining the utmost standards in food safety.”

Kuehnert said the St. Charles Portillo’s passed a routine health department inspection with high scores just last week. He said restaurant officials are cooperating with the investigation and residents should not be overly alarmed.

“Things are well in hand,” Kuehnert said.