The LA County Department of Public Health is investigating a Mexican restaurant in Valencia after multiple reports of food poisoning following a dinner at the restaurant late last week.
According to Public Health’s media relations department, the department received reports of “gastrointestinal symptoms” on Tuesday after people dined at Madre Oaxacan Restaurant & Mezcaleria.
“On Tuesday, September 17, the Department of Health, Environmental Health Division, received several reports of people experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms after consuming food at the Madre Oaxacan Restaurant located at 27007 McBean Parkway, Valencia,” reads a statement from Becky Schlikeman, director of public health external communications. “The department’s Outbreak Investigation and Evaluation Unit is investigating.”
As part of the investigation, Public Health sent out a survey asking those who dined at the restaurant to complete it to “determine the nature and extent of this incident.” The research can be found at tinyurl.com/2p9zvahs and any questions may be directed to the Food Safety Unit of the Acute Communicable Disease Control Department at 213-240-7941.
According to Patrick Moody, spokesman for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, an emergency physician said there was a noticeable increase in the number of people reporting stomach pain on Friday and Saturday. He said 14 percent of patients over two days complained of symptoms related to food poisoning, while the average is closer to 9 percent.
Public Health last inspected the restaurant in March and gave it a score of 92, giving it an “A” rating, albeit with a few violations.
The report stated that pico de gallo, queso fresco, tamales and chile relleno were observed being stored in an inoperative cooler and were measured to be above the approved temperature of 41 degrees. It has also been observed that shellfish are kept in an unsafe manner.
A follow-up inspection in April found none of the outstanding violations.
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