Owners of a Bloomington, Illinois McDonalds voluntarily shut the establishment down last week after it was linked to a series of Salmonella infections. Bob and Julie Dobski, who own 9 McDonalds franchises in the Bloomington-Normal area, were informed by health officials Wednesday night that the South Main Street location had been connected to a cluster of Salmonella Stanley illnesses. The owners chose to shut down the restaurant before Thanksgiving the following day. Less than 10 Salmonella cases have been reported, according to Keri Simon, communications director for the McClean County Health Department, as reported by Pantagraph. People affected by the bacteria report eating at the restaurant between October 18 and November 11, according to the county health department, which is conducting the investigation along with the Illinois Department of Public Health. All employees of the establishment are being tested for Salmonella infection before being allowed to return to work, said the McClean County Health Department in a press release. The illnesses do not appear to be linked to a specific food served at the restaurant, say county health officials, noting that the investigation is still in its early stages. “The suspected link does not seem to be a certain food, but rather human transmission” said the health department in its press release. The restaurant remained closed as of Monday, but was expected to reopen when enough employees had been determined to be free of infection, reported the Pentagraph.
