Lawsuits were filed against Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe in San Diego after at least 37 people got Salmonella from April 25 to May 1, 2025.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe food poisoning cases in San Diego, CA. If you got Salmonella from Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Health Officials Report 37 Illnesses in Aladdin Cafe Outbreak
The San Diego Health Department issued an Outbreak Update to report 37 probable and confirmed cases of people who have gotten sick with Salmonella after dining at the Aladdin Mediterranean Café in the Clairemont San Diego area between April 25 to May 1, 2025.
Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe Salmonella Lawsuit
In May 2025, multiple lawsuits were filed after dozens of people got food poisoning with Salmonella after eating at Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe in San Diego between April 25 and May 1, 2025.
How Many People Got Sick?
On May 8, 2025, San Diego County health officials confirmed that 37 people got sick with Salmonella after eating at Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe between April 25 and May 1, including 9 people who were hospitalized due to a severe illness.
The ages of those impacted range from 1 to 90 years old. “The source of the Salmonella outbreak has not been identified and the investigation is ongoing,” health officials said.
The case count has grown steadily since the county initially reported that it was investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to a local restaurant on May 2, 2025, when only 14 illnesses were reported.
The true number of sick people may be higher than the official case count. Some people recover without seeking medical attention, and not all illnesses are reported to the Health Department.
Lawsuits Filed Against Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe
On May 6, 2025, the first Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe Salmonella Lawsuit was filed by Daniel Meza and Nubia Munguia, a man and woman who were both diagnosed with Salmonella.
According to the lawsuit, they both ate lamb and chicken, pita bread, hummus, rice, and Mediterranean ice cream at Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe on April 26, 2025.
The next day, Nubia became ill with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Her condition worsened over the next two days, until she went to the Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista Emergency Room, where she remained hospitalized for two days, until May 1.
Her stool culture tested positive for Salmonella, and she was contacted by officials with the San Diego County Public Health Department who were investigating numerous reports of Salmonella linked to food at Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe.
Daniel also experienced Salmonella symptoms after eating at Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe. After seeking medical attention, doctors ordered a stool culture, which tested positive for Salmonella. Health officials also contacted him during the outbreak investigation.
The lawsuit was filed on May 6, 2025 in San Diego County Superior Court.
What Food Was Contaminated With Salmonella?
Health officials in San Diego have not yet identified what specific food was contaminated with Salmonella, but Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe has closed temporarily to allow health officials to do more testing, interview employees, and try to pinpoint the source of the outbreak.
On May 2, 2025, health officials in San Diego County said: “No source of the outbreak has been determined, however once the investigation is complete and it is determined there is no ongoing risk, the restaurant will be cleared to resume operation.”
Types of Foods Linked to Salmonella Outbreaks
Cooking food to a temperature of 165ºF can kill Salmonella, but foods that are eaten raw (such as salad or hummus) may be contaminated. Cross-contamination is another risk, especially in restaurant settings. Tahini and hummus can be a source of Salmonella, and there have been several recalls and outbreaks of Salmonella linked to tahini and hummus in recent years. Raw or under-cooked chicken or other meat products can also be a source of Salmonella contamination.
What is Salmonella?
Salmonella is a type of bacteria that lives in the digestive systems of humans and other animals, such as cattle. Outbreaks can occur when people eat foods that are contaminated with animal feces. Foods may not look, smell, or taste spoiled if they contain Salmonella.
Signs & Symptoms of Salmonella
The symptoms of food poisoning with Salmonella usually start between 6 hours and 3 days after eating contaminated food, but it can take 10 days or longer. The symptoms may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Abdominal cramping
- Stomach pain
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue (feeling very tired)
- Dehydration
What is the Risk?
Salmonella infections are not usually life-threatening for healthy adults, but they can require hospitalization or even be fatal. Medical treatment typically involves anti-nausea or anti-diarrhea medications.
According to San Diego Health Department:
“People who dined at Aladdin Mediterranean Café between April 25 and May 1, 2025 and feel ill with any of the symptoms listed should contact a healthcare provider as needed.”
People who are still ill or have recovered after dining at Aladdin Mediterranean Café can report their illness to the San Diego Health Department by calling (858) 505-6814 or through this form if on a desktop or laptop device and by emailing it to fhdepi@sdcounty.ca.gov
Dehydration
Dehydration due to vomiting or diarrhea can be a serous complication of Salmonella. Treatment for severe dehydration involves hospitalization for intravenous (IV) fluids, usually in an emergency room or urgent-care facility. Dehydration can develop very quickly in the elderly, infants, or people with vulnerable immune systems, and it can potentially lead to kidney failure.
Long-Term Risks & Other Complications
Salmonella infections can also cause other severe long-term health problems, according to the FDA: “In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.”
Do I Have an Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe Salmonella Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe food poisoning cases in San Diego, CA. If you got Salmonella from Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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