At least 15 Salmonella illnesses among residents or visitors to Chico, California have been linked to the Margarita Mix-Off event held at Manzanita Place on May 8. Health authorities have been unable, thus far, to pinpoint the precise source of the bacteria; food at the mix-off event was served by at least six separate local restaurants.
It was originally suspected, both here and by local health officials, that the Chico salmonella illnesses were part of the national sprouts outbreak that occurred in May, sickenening at least 11 California residents and prompting a large recall by Caldwell Fresh Foods, of Maywood California. Genetic testing on bacteria isolated from several of the Chico salmonella victims’ stool, however, showed that the strain involved in Chico was different than the strain involved in the sprouts outbreak.