Our law firm is investigating an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli associated with Sodexo’s Café Mario and I Love Sushi, both located at the Nintendo of America campus in Redmond, Washington. Café Mario is operated by Sodexo and is not open to the public. I Love Sushi operates out of Café Mario once a week.
All four of the people who got sick work at the Nintendo of America campus in Redmond. Two of them are residents of King County, and two are residents of Snohomish County. All four consumed food from Café Mario in King County and work at the Nintendo of America campus in Redmond. Three of the four tested positive for E. coli. Further testing at the Washington State Public Health Laboratory is pending, including determining the genetic fingerprint and specific strain of E. coli that caused the infections.
The four ill people consumed food from Café Mario on multiple days during June 18–22, 2018; one ill person also ate at I Love Sushi on June 19 and June 26, 2018. Symptoms of E. coli, including abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea, began June 25–28, 2018. The incubation period for E. coli is generally from 3 to 10 days. This means someone who ate at Café Mario on the 19th of June might not get sick until June 25 or later.
At this time, the food source of the illnesses has not been identified. Even if the source is not found, an E. coli lawsuit may be possible because one can sue a restaurant for E. coli poisoning.
Seattle and King County Officials Investigate E. coli Outbreak Associated with Café Mario
On July 3, 2018, Seattle and King County Environmental Health investigators conducted an inspection of Café Mario and I Love Sushi.
“At Café Mario, potential risk factors were identified and corrective actions discussed with Café Mario’s management, including inadequate hand washing practices and improper cold holding temperatures of food. At I Love Sushi, potential risk factors were also identified and discussed, including improper temperature storage of foods.”
Food products and environmental swabs were collected for laboratory testing.
Two days later, on July 5, 2018, investigators closed Café Mario and the onsite I Love Sushi food services. The restaurants will remain closed until approved to reopen by Public Health, which is requiring them to complete a thorough cleaning and disinfection prior to reopening.