Two restaurants sharing a kitchen appear to also be sharing responsibility for sickening at least 29 people in Michigan’s Muskegon and Ottawa counties with Salmonella, according to Public Health Muskegon County. Pints and Quarts Pub and Grill has been implicated, along with C.F. Prime Chophouse & Wine Bar. The illnesses occurred between Oct. 30 and Nov. 2, and the restaurants do not appear to pose a continued public health threat. The health department conducted more than 100 interviews with restaurant employees and patrons, according to department director Ken Kraus. But the exact source of the outbreak is still unclear. “We’ve repeatedly observed and interviewed the restaurant staff, and, at this time, have been unable to find a procedure or practice that would lead to the contamination that occurred,” Kraus said. Thus far, the department has confirmed 29 cases of Salmonella enteritidis via laboratory testing. Of those, 25 reside in Muskegon County, while the other four are in Ottawa County. Confirming a Salmonella illness usually takes two to four weeks from the onset of symptoms. Symptoms of Salmonella infection include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps and last four to seven days.
