Aladdin Café® Class Action Lawsuit

Food poisoning lawsuits are being filed against Aladdin Café in San Diego after 37 people got sick in an outbreak of Salmonella, including 9 who were hospitalized.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Aladdin Café Food Poisoning cases in San Diego, CA. If you got sick after eating food at Aladdin Mediterranean Café, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Class Action Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: County Reports 37 Salmonella Illnesses in Aladdin Café Outbreak

On May 8, 2025, San Diego County health officials issued an Outbreak Update to report 37 confirmed or probable cases of people who got sick with Salmonella after eating food at Aladdin Mediterranean Café between April 25 and May 1, 2025, including 9 people who were hospitalized. The ages of the victims range from 1 to 90 years old.

What Food Made People Sick?

“The source of the Salmonella outbreak has not been identified and the investigation is ongoing,” according to San Diego County health officials. Aladdin Mediterranean Café voluntarily shut down on May 1 to allow health officials to conduct testing and interview staff.

“The restaurant will remain closed until it is safe to operate, and when its management is ready to reopen,” health officials said.

Food Poisoning Lawsuits Against Aladdin Café

Food poisoning lawsuits are being filed against Aladdin Mediterranean Café in San Diego by people who got sick. The first lawsuits were filed by people who were hospitalized due to a severe illness, and later diagnosed with Salmonella through laboratory testing.

Can I Join a Class Action Lawsuit?

You may be able to file a lawsuit or join a class action lawsuit against Aladdin Café if you (or a family member):

Purchased and/or ate food at Aladdin Mediterranean Café in San Diego, CA
Between April 25 and May 1, 2025
Developed symptoms of food poisoning (anywhere from 6 hours to 10 days+ after eating at Aladdin Café)
Hospitalized or needed medical treatment
Have a diagnosis, blood test, labs, or stool sample that tested positive for Salmonella (This is helpful for your case but not necessary — some people recover before they can get tested)

Class Action Lawsuits for Food Poisoning

Class action lawsuits for food poisoning can be filed against restaurants and other food companies by people who got sick (or were exposed to a risk of illness) in large outbreaks linked to contaminated food. People who got sick may decide to file an individual lawsuit, rather than a class action, which can have advantages for people with significant injuries.

Who Can I File a Lawsuit Against?

The first lawsuits are usually filed against the restaurant where the outbreak occurred, but in many outbreaks, the restaurant is not the only defendant who is hit with lawsuits — and in the end, the restaurant may not even be responsible.

This is because restaurants use food that is supplied by other companies. If health officials are able to pinpoint a specific food that was the source of the outbreak, lawsuits can then be filed against the company who supplied the restaurant with contaminated food.

Food Poisoning Litigation Can Be Very Complex

Food poisoning litigation can become very complex, especially when outbreaks are very large. Lawsuits can be filed by people who got sick, but class actions may be filed on behalf of everyone who ate the contaminated food — even people who did not get sick.

The restaurant may also decide to file its own lawsuit against the company who supplied them with the contaminated food. In the end, the restaurant may be able to avoid liability if they can prove the outbreak was caused by a supplier (and not their own negligence).

When Is the Restaurant Responsible?

Restaurants usually try to sell food that is safe to eat, but not always. The restaurant can be held liable in food poisoning outbreaks if lawyers can prove they violated food safety procedures, such as:

Failing to keep food at a proper temperature
Vermin infestations (rodents, insects, etc.)
Lack of hand-washing by staff
Cross-contamination
Using food from unsanitary sources
Not properly cleaning and sanitizing food-contact surfaces or equipment
And more

Official Inspection Reports Are Critical Evidence

Health officials may note these violations during inspections, or even force unsanitary restaurants to shut down. Inspection reports are critical evidence when lawyers try to determine liability in outbreaks.

Aladdin Café Inspection Finds “Major” Food Safety Violations

During a “routine inspection” on April 29, 2025, health officials observed a “major” violation of food-safety protocols and a “minor” violation related to food holding temperatures at Aladdin Mediterranean Café, according to NBC San Diego. No violations were observed during environmental health inspections on April 29 and May 2, 2025.

Can I File a Lawsuit If I Did Not Get Sick?

People who did not get sick may also be able to join class actions. This can occur if they ate contaminated food and they are seeking refunds, or if they needed medical monitoring to check for infections.

What Are The Symptoms?

Not all food poisoning infections cause symptoms right away. You may develop symptoms of a Salmonella infection within 6 hours of eating contaminated food, but it can take 10 days or sometimes more.

Some people with Salmonella infection have no symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic, but most people will develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain, abdominal cramps, and other symptoms that last for 4 to 7 days.

How Much Is My Lawsuit Worth?

There is no guarantee of a settlement or payout in food poisoning lawsuits, but while some cases are worth only a few thousand dollars, others can pay $500,000 or more for severe illnesses, long-term complications, or wrongful death.

Salmonella Lawsuits For Severe Complications

Payouts could potentially be higher for people with severe complications of Salmonella, for example:

Dehydration that required hospitalization or caused kidney failure
Salmonella infection spreads to other parts of the body
Bloodstream infection (sepsis)
Hospitalization for IV fluids, anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea medication
Organ damage or other severe complications (arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, etc.)
Long-term health problems
Young children, elderly adults, pregnant women, or other people with vulnerable immune systems

What Evidence Do I Need?

There are many factors that come into play, but higher payouts are possible for people who have strong evidence to support their case, especially if they got very sick, were hospitalized, or a loved one died.

Do you have a laboratory diagnosis proving that you were infected? Do you have receipts showing when you ate at the restaurant, and what food? Do you have copies of your medical bills or time off work?

All of these documents can add evidence that you (or your family member) suffered significant losses that deserve compensation. A lawyer can help you gather the documents you need, join a class action or file an individual lawsuit, and present the best case possible.

Do I Have an Aladdin Café Class Action Lawsuit?

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Aladdin Café Class Action Lawsuit