ONTARIO: Restaurant owner says E. coli response has ruined his business

05.nov.08
Hamilton Spectator
Joanna Frketich

BURLINGTON -- The co-owner of Johnathan's Family Restaurant says his thriving
business has been destroyed by an E. coli outbreak.
So far it hasn't been determined whether Greg Tasoulis could have done anything to
stop the contaminated food from reaching his customers, making at least three ill.
Fifty-two more are awaiting test results.
His restaurant has been closed for a week with no date set for it to reopen. His 30
employees are out a paycheque and at least half of them have kids to support.
Tasoulis, who has a nine-month-old baby of his own, says the '50s-style diner he
bought into three months ago has lost more than $25,000.
"I feel like the stock market, you know, when the numbers go tumbling," he said.
But what is far worse is that his restaurant's reputation is in tatters.
"How am I going to get back 5,000 customers?" he asked.
Halton and Niagara public health departments suspect E. coli 0157 got into his
restaurant and two in Niagara from a supplier because all of their customers became
ill from the same strain.
However, the restaurants have no common suppliers, making it difficult to pinpoint
the source.
Niagara public health officials suspect fresh produce in salads and garnishes is
most likely to blame, though there have been no firm findings yet - and may never
be.
If E. coli was in fresh produce, it would have been difficult for restaurants to
prevent illness because the best way to get rid of the bacteria is to cook food
properly.
When food isn't cooked, washing is the best defence but that doesn't always get rid
of it.
"One can be completely out of luck," acknowledged Dr. Monir Taha, Halton's associate
medical officer of health.