BOSTON – A woman is suing a local restaurant chain for contracting Salmonella food poisoning after eating at one of its locations last week, court documents revealed Tuesday.
On Friday, city officials temporarily closed two of Los Amigos Taqueria’s Boston locations in Brighton and West Roxbury after public health inspectors found a number of health violations, including unsanitary working conditions that appear to be related to a Salmonella outbreak in the area.
City and state public health officials “are investigating an emerging salmonella outbreak linked to the Los Amigos Taqueria restaurant in Brighton, affecting residents of the Brighton, Boston and Greater Boston area,” a spokesman for the Boston Public Health Commission said in a statement Friday.
In a lawsuit filed Monday in Suffolk Superior Court, Chloe Crelia claims she became ill with Salmonella food poisoning after eating at Los Amigos Taqueria’s Brighton restaurant on or about May 17.
“At Los Amigos’ Brighton restaurant, Chloe purchased food manufactured, prepared, distributed and/or sold by Los Amigos. The food products manufactured, prepared, distributed and/or sold by Los Amigos were contaminated with Salmonella,” the lawsuit states. “On or about May 19, 2023, Chloe developed fever, watery diarrhea, body aches, and severe abdominal pain. Chloe sought medical treatment for her severe symptoms.”
The suit seeks an unspecified amount in damages for medical expenses and lost earnings incurred by Crelia, as well as for “conscious physical pain and suffering and mental anguish” and “the physical impairment that Chloe has suffered in the past and is likely to suffer in the future”. “
Attorneys Jory Lange and Michael P. Joyce represent Crelia, who is “one of several people who suffered from Salmonella food poisoning after eating last week at Los Amigos Taqueria restaurants in Brighton and West Roxbury,” they said lawyers in a statement on Tuesday.
“The scary thing about this outbreak is that, as a consumer, there’s nothing you can do to know if the food you’re buying is safe. You can’t taste, smell or see Salmonella. Food contaminated with Salmonella can to look, smell and taste like any other food,” Lange said. “That’s why it’s so important that the restaurants that make and sell our food make sure the food is safe before they sell it.”
The Lange law firm has received many calls from people who are sick because of this outbreak, he said.
Amigos Taqueria at 366 Washington Street in Brighton and its second Boston location at 1741 Center Street in West Roxbury had their licenses to operate suspended after inspections on Thursday and Friday, respectively, city officials said .
“We encourage residents who visited the Brighton location between May 12 and 18 to monitor themselves for symptoms of Salmonella infection, such as fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain, and to contact a health care provider for evaluation and testing if appropriate,” Boston said. The Public Health Commission has been added.
Among other health violations found at the two Boston locations, the city said “multiple rodent droppings” were found on cans of pineapple, bags of pinto beans, disposable drink holders and placemats. storage
Friends also has locations in Brookline, Newton and Somerville.
The Newton location currently remains open and is unaffected by reports of foodborne illness, Boston 25 has learned.
Boston 25 has reached out to the restaurant chain for comment, as well as health officials in Brookline and Somerville.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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