Salmonella warning issued for food from Iowa City Mexican restaurant

Iowans are being warned not to eat guacamole, salsa and uncooked tamales prepared by an Iowa City business and sold at Eastern Iowa farmers markets.

La Reyna Supermarket & Taqueria, 1937 Keokuk St., voluntarily recalled those products sold before July 19 because of possible salmonella contamination, said Curtis Dickson, director of Linn County Public Health.

Dickson said anyone who purchased the products, sold at farmers markets in Linn, Johnson and Dubuque counties, should discard them.

Linn County began an investigation when five illnesses were reported on July 13, he said.

All five had gastrointestinal complaints, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Dickson said up to 25 people in several counties may have been ill in connection with the investigation. He did not know if anyone was hospitalized.

Of the 25 cases, eight were lab-confirmed and several others are pending.

Doug Beardsley, director of Johnson County Public Health, said inspectors have examined the food preparation processes at La Reyna and corrections have been made.

He said there was not any particular deficiency, but in general, inspectors examine food temperatures, refrigeration and other steps in food preparation.

The health department did not close La Reyna, which is in compliance with all food safety standards now, Beardsley said.

La Reyna owner Carlos Legaspi issued a statement, saying the products were pulled from shelves even before any action was requested.

“The health and safety of our customers is our primary concern at this point,” Legaspi said.

These are the locations where the products were sold:

Iowa City Hy-Vee, 1720 Waterfront Drive; Iowa City Farmers Market; Iowa City Jazz Festival; New Pioneer Coop, 22 South Van Buren St., Iowa City and 1101 2nd St., Coralville; Johnson County Farmers Markets at Sycamore Mall, Coralville and Iowa City;Linn County Farmers Markets at Noelridge; Downtown Cedar Rapids and Marion; and the Dubuque Farmer's Market.