OTHER NEWS - April 7, 1993

Sizzler Sickness Linked to Mayonnaise: Oregon health officials said tainted mayonnaise used in salad dressings and sauces was the cause of at least 13 food poisoning cases at two Sizzler restaurants in southern Oregon. But it remains unclear how the mayonnaise became contaminated by E. coli bacteria, which usually is found in meat. The two franchises were voluntarily closed for a week but have reopened. Investigators believe that meat juices could have leaked into the mayonnaise during transport, or salad dressings and other sauces may have been prepared on the same counter as contaminated meat. The meat apparently was cooked well enough to kill the bacteria.