Salmonella Linked To Hummus At Restaurant Chain In Maryland

MARYLAND — A cluster of salmonella infections has been linked to Moby Dick House of Kabob, according to the Maryland Department of Health. People who bought hummus from the restaurant, which has locations in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., should discard it and be mindful of any symptoms.

Salmonella is the name for the bacteria that can lead to fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps if passed through contaminated food. Symptoms usually strike within six hours to four days after consumption. Diarrhea can be so severe that it requires hospitalization, but most people can recover from a salmonella infection within four to seven days without treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older people, infants and those with compromised immune systems are more at risk of becoming severely ill and requiring hospitalization.

Nine cases of salmonella infections in Maryland have been confirmed since Sept. 10, state health officials reported Thursday, Sept. 26. Of those, eight reported eating hummus from Moby Dick House of Kabob, state health officials said, noting the investigation into the infections is ongoing.

Moby Dick House of Kabob has nine Maryland locations: Baltimore, Bethesda, College Park, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Olney, Potomac, Pikesville and Rockville. Moby Dick House of Kabob also has locations in Virginia and Washington, D.C., but health officials say the salmonella cases have only been reported in Maryland.

The restaurant has voluntarily suspended selling hummus, and the Maryland Department of Health advises those who bought hummus from Moby Dick House of Kabob to throw it out. Anyone who has recently eaten at the restaurant and is feeling sick should seek medical attention.

Three people became sick at the University of Maryland College Park with salmonella infections, according to the University Health Center, which said two had eaten at campus dining facilities. University health officials encouraged people to wash their hands and to refrigerate food that may spoil, since warm conditions can make conditions ripe for salmonella.

Each year, about 900 to 1,000 confirmed salmonella infections are reported in Maryland, according to state health officials.