SAN DIEGO The number of confirmed cases in an E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak tied to a Souplantation restaurant in Lake Forest, Calif., has reached 15.
Orange County health officials said 14 cases involved customers, mostly juveniles, and one is an employee at the restaurant. All ate at the restaurant between March 23 and March 25, and one remained hospitalized as of Wednesday.
The restaurant remains closed indefinitely while health officials investigate. No source for possible contamination has been identified.
The 100-unit salad bar and buffet chain is operated by San Diego-based Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., and includes restaurants under the name Souplantation in Southern California and Sweet Tomatoes elsewhere.