Lizard Head Found in Salad
AP - Feature Stories
Lizard Head Found in Salad Tests Negative
Mon May 12,10:51 AM ET
CORALVILLE, Iowa - A lizard head found in a carry-out salad from a restaurant in this eastern Iowa city has tested negative for salmonella, a bacteria that causes food poisoning.
The lizard head was found May 2 in a Santa Fe Chicken Salad prepared at Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar.
Kot Flora, an assistant director at the Johnson County Public Health Department, said Friday that preliminary results showed no presence of salmonella. Final results are expected Monday.
A complaint was filed with the health department by John Hellstein after his wife discovered the lizard head in a salad she ordered for lunch.
"Obviously, she was upset," said Hellstein, a University of Iowa professor of dentistry. "I don't expect she will be eating Santa Fe salads anytime soon."
Apple Corp. LP, the owner of the Applebee's restaurant, issued a statement Friday. In it, the corporation apologized and said it had confirmed it was an isolated incident. The restaurant is now using pre-cut, pre-cleaned lettuce for its salads, the statement said.
Flora said Applebee's is considered a good operator by the health department.
"We think this was just an unfortunate fluke," Flora said.
Hellstein agrees.
"I worked in produce for seven years, and I've seen lots of things crawl out of lots of things."
Applebees: http://www.applebees.com/
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Just a fluke. Aiiiiieeeeeee!
