Illinois public health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak associated with some Subway fast-food restaurants in several counties in that state, and class-action lawyers are in hot pursuit, The Associated Press reports.
The Illinois Department of Public Health says 71 cases of salmonella have been confirmed.
Subway restaurants are franchises of Milford-based Doctor’s Associates Inc.
A specific food source has not been identified in association with the outbreak and the specific type of salmonella involved is an uncommon serotype called hvittingfoss. Typically, only one to two cases of this type of salmonella are seen in Illinois per year.
Class action lawyers are already fishing for business.
One Chicago firm, Law Group Ltd., announced Friday its own investigation on behalf of all Illinois residents who attracted Salmonella.
Officials from Subway have been cooperating with the investigation.
“Although there has been no positive or confirmed association with a specific product, the Subway restaurant chain has voluntarily withdrawn all lettuce, green peppers, red onion and tomatoes, from the suspected dates from its restaurants and has replaced the product with new, fresh produce,” the company said in a statement. “The Subway brand will continue to work with the Department of Public Health to assist in pinpointing the exact cause of the outbreak.”
