Thursday, September 04, 2008

E. coli outbreak largest in American history


Unfortunately, the outbreak is right here in NE Oklahoma. It is suspected as originating at a popular local restaurant in Locust Grove, about 25 NE of Wagoner.

The "Country Cottage" restaurant is at the center of the Health Department investigation. Over 200 people have been affected with over 100 in the hospital. One death has been attributed to the outbreak.

The Wagoner football team even canceled a scheduled scrimmage with the team from Locust Grove, but the Wagoner athletic director refused to comment about it.

As far as I know, there are three people in the Wagoner hospital with E. coli contamination.

I've eaten at the Country Cottage many years ago, and we were talking about getting a group from our church to go there in the next month or so. Currently the restaurant has voluntarily closed until the source of the contamination can be determined. It is unfortunate for the restaurant and the town of Locust Grove because the "scare" is spilling over into other businesses and restaurants.

If you do a restaurant critic review of Country Cottage, you'll find most folks very pleased with the restaurant and quality of food. It is one of the few rural restaurants where you will actually have to wait in line to get in. There is currently a drive by Locust Grove residents to get the restaurant re-opened.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This restaurant is well worth visiting. Very good food and reasonable, too. It has been in business over 26 years and the owners are like family to many of those that are sickened. I would feel better if they were to identify the source of the e coli. One interesting note is that the Tulsa area did NOT accept any Gustav evacuees due to the strain on our medical facilities because of this outbreak.

M. Steve Heartsill said...

I saw this story online yesterday and wondered whether this was near you guys or not...

WOW!

I've had food poisoning (not e coli by any imagination--but still very, very, very sick) twice in my life. The last time after eating at a major chain of mexican type resturants. I even called the company. Their first question was, "How do you know it was our place?" Answer: Both my wife and I had the exact same thing...at the same place...at the same time...

Their answer...they sent us two free meal coupons to come back to eat there! :)

Seriously!!!!