Two Boston eateries are temporarily closed

May 26--City inspectors have temporarily closed two Back Bay restaurants after health officials linked the eateries to eight confirmed cases of a food-borne illness.

The health permit for Back Bay Sandwich on St. James Avenue was suspended May 17 after two of its customers were diagnosed with salmonella, officials said.

The permit for Cafe Med, also on St. James Avenue, was suspended the next day after four customers there were diagnosed with the same illness, officials said.

Two other people who became ill said they had eaten at both restaurants, said Ana Vivas, a spokeswoman for the Boston Public Health Commission.

"Some critical violations, such as having raw food next to prepared food, wouldn't warrant us closing a restaurant, because they can be corrected immediately," Inspectional Services Commissioner William "Buddy" Christopher said. "But as soon as we get a confirmed case of salmonella, we immediately close the restaurant."

Inspectors found 14 violations at Back Bay Sandwich on May 17, eight of which were "critical" because they involved food-borne illness risk factors or other problems requiring immediate intervention, records show. A follow-up inspection the next day found 18 violations -- half of them critical -- including rodent droppings in the basement storage area. A May 18 inspection of Cafe Med also found 18 violations -- eight of them critical -- including storing raw eggs and raw chicken with ready-to-eat foods, according to the records.

Salmonella is a type of bacteria that can enter the digestive tract of humans in contaminated food. It can cause abdominal pain and violent diarrhea.

Jack Encarnacao contributed to this report.

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