All News / Case News /

Adrift Restaurant Salmonella Lawsuits

The Skagit County Public Health Department (SCPHD) first learned of Salmonella illness associated with food from Adrift restaurant on September 7, 2005. Two people had been hospitalized at Island Hospital in Anacortes, and both had eaten crab cakes at Adrift restaurant between August 30 and September 2.

According to the SCPHD Salmonella investigation report, ten whole raw eggs were mixed into each batch of crab cakes. The cakes were approximately one and one-quarter inches thick and two inches in diameter. The restaurant made a batch of 75 crab cakes every two to three days. During a SCPHD investigation on September 9, health officials requested that a crab cake be cooked using normal restaurant procedures. When the crab cake was finished, a thermometer inserted into the center of the cake read just 108° Fahrenheit. The final report states,

From the inspection it appeared that the crab cakes were not cooked to an adequate internal temperature to kill the Salmonella pathogen (108 degrees at measurement vs. 145 degrees required by state code). The cooks were not monitoring internal temperatures in the crab cakes at cooking. The crab cakes were of a thickness to make thorough cooking on the grill without burning unlikely.

Marler Clark represented two women who became ill with Salmonellosis in claims against Cafe Adrift. The claims were settled in July, 2006.

Get Help

Affected by an outbreak or recall?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

Get a free consultation
Related Resources
Salmonella Food Poisoning

What is Salmonella and how does it cause food poisoning? The term Salmonella refers to a specific group of gram-negative bacteria with the potential to cause gastrointestinal distress and other...

The Incidence of Salmonella Infections

Typhoidal Salmonella Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhi, Sendai, and Paratyphi A, B, or C are found exclusively in humans. These serotypes, collectively referred to as typhoidal Salmonella, cause enteric fever (also...

The Prevalence of Salmonella in Food and Elsewhere

Most Salmonella infections are caused by eating contaminated food. One study found that 87% of all confirmed cases of Salmonella are foodborne. Foods of animal origin, including meat, poultry, eggs...

Transmission of Salmonella Bacteria

In the past two decades, consumption of produce, especially sprouts, tomatoes, fruits, leafy greens, nuts, and nut butters, has been associated with Salmonella illnesses. The surface of fruits and vegetables...

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include painful abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever. Salmonella infections can have a broad range of illness, from no symptoms to severe illness. The most common clinical...

Outbreak Database

Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

View Outbreak Database