Gastrointestinal illness outbreak associated with Egg Ceteras Blue Star Cafe & Pub

Summary

Public Health investigated an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness (stomach illness) associated with Egg Ceteras Blue Star Cafe & Pub in Seattle. Based on our investigation, both people likely became sick from a bacterial toxin in the fried sliced potatoes from the restaurant.

This outbreak is over, and our investigation is complete.

Illnesses

On August 19, 2024, we learned of two people that don't live in the same home that became sick after eating at Egg Ceteras Blue Star Cafe & Pub on August 18, 2024. Both people had one or more signs consistent with a bacterial toxin, including feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

We did not find any sick restaurant workers.

Public Health actions

We talked to both people who became sick to try to learn how they got sick. In the seven days before becoming sick, they only saw each other once when they ate together at Egg Ceteras Blue Star Cafe & Pub on August 18, 2024.

On September 4, 2024, we visited Egg Ceteras Blue Star Cafe & Pub. We found things at the restaurant that increases the risk for the growth of bacterial toxin like unsafe cooling and refrigeration of food. These unsafe practices were found in the restaurant's process for making sliced potatoes, a food that both people ate during their visit. The restaurant fixed these problems during our visit. We also educated the restaurant workers on the safe cooling process for cooked foods.

On September 18, we returned to the restaurant to make sure the restaurant continued to follow safe procedures for preparing their foods. During this visit, no health violations were found.

Laboratory testing

We do not have laboratory testing for the people who got sick. Bacterial toxin sickness often starts and ends soon after eating, and by the time people see a doctor, if they do at all, it is usually too late to test.