Chicago Tortilla Plant Stops Production After School Illnesses

By Anthonia Akitunde in News on Mar 8, 2009 6:30PM

Del Rey Tortilleria in Chicago's Cragin neighborhood on the Northwest Side agreed to stop tortilla production after being linked to an outbreak of illness in Wisconsin and Massachusetts schools. It must pass federal inspections before production is allowed again.

The plant failed to correct unsanitary practices (such as failure to keep pests out and using paint buckets to store ingredients) found by federal officials after six visits dating back to 2003. Children at a Racine, Wis. school suffered from flu-like symptoms including cramps and nausea after eating food made with Del Rey tortillas in 2007 and in 2003 and 2004 for students at a Massachusetts school.

An attorney for Del Rey said the plant has already made corrections and is working with an expert to develop sanitary food practices that meet FDA standards. [Trib]