Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Outbreaks & Recalls,Salmonella on May 6, 2025
Have you recently dined at Aladdin Mediterranean Café in Clairemont? This San Diego restaurant is at the heart of a San Deigo County public health investigation.
At least 14 people have become sick with Salmonella infections. Five people have been hospitalized so far.
The common factor?
Food from Aladdin Mediterranean Café in Clairemont.
The outbreak investigation is ongoing.
What symptoms should you look out for and what should you do if you are sick? Follow along for that and more as we discuss the Aladdin Mediterranean Café Salmonella outbreak.
San Diego County public health officials are currently investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to dining at a San Diego area restaurant. Aladdin Mediterranean Café in Clairemont, located at 5420 Clairemont Mesa.
Salmonella Outbreak
5420 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117
April 25 – April 26, 2025
According to health department records, There are 14 people between the ages of 18 and 79 impacted by this outbreak. At least five people have been hospitalized for their illness.
Patient interviews indicate that sick people reported eating food from Aladdin Mediterranean Café between April 25 and April 26, 2025.
The investigation is ongoing.
The County Environmental Health and Quality Department is working alongside the State Public Health Services officials on this outbreak.
The source of this Salmonella outbreak is still being investigated. No source has been identified at this time.
While the outbreak could have been caused by contamination in the kitchen. Cross-contamination with raw chicken or other meat.
Under-cooked meat or poultry could also be a suspect.
Other factors may include potentially contaminated ingredients. Some of which require special handling to ensure their safety when serving in a large-scale environment, like a restaurant. Or even in your own home kitchen.
There are two Salmonella outbreak investigations that have been recently added to the FDA’s Active Outbreak Investigation table. One with 59 associated cases. The other with 24 associated cases. Both involving the germ Salmonella Enteritidis. Both without a known source, though traceback investigation activities have been initiated by the FDA for those outbreaks.
The specific strain of Salmonella involved in the Aladdin Mediterranean Café outbreak has not been announced, so it is unclear whether an ingredient
Any food (cooked, raw, or ingredient) can technically become contaminated. Historically, however, certain foods have demonstrated more risk than others.
Foods commonly associated with Salmonella outbreaks include:
Based on City-Data information, the restaurant has no publicly available food safety inspections. However, the most recent report available, and those before it, show high scores.
However, these reports are seriously dated and do not demonstrate the current state of the restaurant.
Aladdin Mediterranean Café voluntarily closed when notified of Salmonella cases linked to their establishment to allow health officials to interview staff, conduct additional testing, and help determine a source.
Once the investigation is complete and no ongoing risk is determined, the restaurant will be cleared to reopen.
Salmonella infection symptoms can begin anywhere from six hours to six days after exposure.
Most people experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that last about a week (four to seven days).
Certain groups of people have conditions or susceptibilities that make them more likely to become sick if exposed, and experience more severe symptoms if infected.
Those more vulnerable to Salmonella infection include:
Those more likely to experience severe symptoms include:
While most people do not need medical intervention and are not prescribed antibiotic treatment, those in the higher risk group are more likely to receive treatment.
In some cases, complications may arise from infection.
Most of the time Salmonella bacteria are limited to the intestinal tract. But in some cases, bacteria can breach the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. When this happens, bacteria may infect the urinary tract, blood, bones, joints, and even the nervous system.
Common Salmonella complications include bacteremia, irritable bowel syndrome, and reactive arthritis that can affect other parts of the body.
Reactive arthritis, a condition affecting the collagen in the joints, eyes, and urethra, is a common complication. This type of infection causes joint pain, irritation of the eyes, and pain during urination. Reactive arthritis symptoms may last for months or even years in some people.
Irritable bowel syndrome is another common complication of Salmonella illness. In some cases, it can take quite some time before bowel habits return to normal.
Bacteremia associated with Salmonella infections can affect many different tissues in the body. Resulting in a variety of infections.
Potential bacteremia infections include:
If you ate food from Aladdin Mediterranean Café around April 25 – 26th and feel sick with symptoms listed above, seek medical attention right away.
If you have become sick from consuming food from Aladdin Mediterranean Café and may be part of the outbreak, you can help the investigation by reporting your symptoms. The more detailed information outbreak investigators can gather about the foods people ate that made them sick could help narrow down the source of the outbreak.
If you experience diarrheal symptoms, you may be losing important fluids your body needs. Replace those fluids with sugar free and caffeine free drinks. Water and electrolytes can help to reduce dehydration.
If you are seriously impacted by this Salmonella outbreak, you may want legal advice. Reach out to an experienced Salmonella lawyer. They will be able to answer questions you may have, and even some that you may not have thought of.
If you have been impacted by this Salmonella outbreak linked to Aladdin Mediterranean Café in Clairemont and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has a Salmonella lawyer that can help.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has successfully represented cases just like yours and won millions of dollars in food poisoning and products liabilities lawsuits.
Reach out by calling (833) 330-3663 or send us an email for a free, no obligation consultation. A member of our compassionate team will go over the details of your situation with you to help determine if you have a legal case.
Don’t wait! Call today to get the justice you deserve.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)