Toyo Tire Salmonella Outbreak: Food Source Identified

CARTERSVILLE, GA -- Preliminary laboratory findings released by the Georgia Department of Public Health have identified the food source responsible for last month's salmonella poisoning outbreak that sickened dozens and hospitalized five people who ate food catered for Toyo Tire employees.

These findings indicate that turkeys handled and catered by Angelo's New York Style Pizza & Bistro were the cause of the outbreak among the employees who took part in the meals Nov. 14-15, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health Northwest Health District.

"Our findings about the actual food product implicated are based on analysis of hundreds of surveys with employees of the company about what they ate at the event and, of course, investigation of the food-service facility involved," said spokesperson Logan Boss, adding they also tested stool samples of sickened employees to determine the disease.

Boss added the laboratory investigation is ongoing, and that local and state epidemiologists will attempt to identify a specific supplier of the poultry. Angelo's, based in Cartersville, voluntarily closed its doors for a thorough inspection and training conducted by environmental health specialists.

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While it was closed, Angelo's was inspected Nov. 22 by Bartow County environmental health specialists, and was allowed to reopen Nov. 27. It was subjected to a follow-up inspection Nov. 28 and received a perfect score.

Boss said inspectors reviewed Angelo's catering opportunities dating back to Nov. 1, and said "there have been no reported problems from any of them."

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