Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe Salmonella Outbreak Latest News: Now 98 Cases of Illness, Owner Issues Apology

Background

Earlier this month, Food Poisoning News reported that San Diego County health officials were investigating a Salmonella outbreak connected to a local restaurant that had resulted in five hospitalizations.

Over the last several weeks, the incident continued to develop and new information has been made available:

• Cases – According to local health authorities, the number of probable cases has increased to 98 from the initial 14 cases first reported.
• Hospitalizations – Nine (9) people are now reported to have been hospitalized from this incident, up from the five (5) people first reported earlier this week.
• Deaths – No deaths in this Salmonella outbreak have been reported at this time.

Timeline

The outbreak affected patrons who dined at Aladdin Mediterranean Café on April 25 and April 26, 2025.

Demographics 

San Diego County officials said that their epidemiologists had identified and confirmed probable cases associated with the outbreak with victims ranging between 1 and 90 years of age. 

A breakdown of sex, race, and ethnicity, information routinely collected in food safety investigations, has not yet been released.

Lawsuits

The first lawsuit in this Salmonella outbreak was filed on May 6, 2025 by Ron Simon & Associates, in collaboration with Gomez Trial Attorneys, in San Diego County, California, on behalf of Daniel Meza and Nubia Munguia. Simon said that his farm has since filed two more suits against the restaurant.

Both Meza and Munguia reported eating a dish of lamb and chicken, along with other food, at Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe on April 26, 2025. Both said that they began to feel ill within a few days of their meal and experienced food poisoning symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.

Meza and Munguia both sought medical help and each tested positive for Salmonella infection. Munguia required hospitalization for treatment and both are still recovering from their ordeal.

The lawsuit seeks compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and potential for long-term health issues related to Salmonella infection.

Besides Meza and Munguia, Simon’s firm said they are representing more than 50 victims of this outbreak as well.

Owner Apologizes

On Thursday, May 15, Hamdi Abukhalaf, Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe’s owner issued an apology: “I want to say to people, ‘Please don’t rush into judgment. We feel very bad for the people that got sick. We are very sorry if we are involved in this directly or indirectly.’ However, I want people to be fair. We are humans. We have been in this business for 32 years. We have maintained high quality and the top cleanliness procedures.”

The restaurant temporarily closed on May 1 but was allowed to reopen by health authorities on May 12.

Health Risks

Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness in humans. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, appearing six hours to six days after exposure to the bacteria. These symptoms generally appear 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food. While most people recover without specific treatment, the infection can be severe, especially for young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.