Disgruntled Restaurant Workers Poison Salsa

by Bill Sertl, Posted Mar 24th 2011 @ 1:00PM

salsa at a restaurant Photo: Julie Toy

What's the matter with Kansas? Well, the salsa served at some of the restaurants in the state packed too much of a punch -- not from spicy jalapeños, but because it was laced with pesticide, reports KTKA News. Not funny, really. A married couple who worked at two different branches of Mi Ranchito restaurant, near Kansas City, was arrested after poisioning the salsa there. The husband, who confessed he was trying to get revenge for losing his job, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison with a fine of up to $250,00. His wife, the one who actually slipped in the Methomyl-based poison, has already been sentenced to 87 months in jail, with a whopping penalty of $478,000 in restitution. Small comfort for the 36 patrons, some of them children and seniors, who suffered anything from cramps and nausea on up to symptoms so severe they had to be taken to hospital.

Filed Under: Food News, Restaurants
Tags: featured, food poisoning, poisoned salsa

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Reader comments (Page 2 of 6)

3-25-2011 @3:32PM Amy said... I totallly agree with you on both points. Anyone who commits such acts should be sent to jail for a LONG time regardless of race, etc. And by the way (for those who posted racist remarks), where in this article does it say that the perpetrators are illegal aliens. Did I miss somethiing? Just because they are Mexican doe NOT mean they are illegals. In case you are wondering. I am not Mexican.

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3-25-2011 @3:59PM EAP said... The comments on this story are worse than the crime committed? I would encourage you to think about that one again. I'll take a verbal barb anyday before I eat poisoned food by a pair of sickos!

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3-25-2011 @4:53PM richard ferrio said... hey Geomcd... your comments are not only racist but ignorant of the facts.

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3-25-2011 @9:27PM laura said... @ME...Where is your sense of priority? Since when is a deliberate malicious act that sickens and sends innocent people to the hospital less offensive than ignorant comments? That attitude is what I find sickening. I agree with EAP, poison can damn well kill me but names won't hurt me. Grow a skin for crying out loud.

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3-26-2011 @5:40PM DaveA said... Judge for yourself!
http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2009/11/husband_and_wife_charged_with_poisoning_salsa_at_mi_ranchito.php

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3-26-2011 @6:24AM W Tenn said... I agree wholeheartedly. While I don't like that they can get tax free interest free loans they don't have to pay back, there are two very good Mexican restaurants in my area.

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3-25-2011 @2:34PM Tony D said... If I ever caught anyone messing with my food. They wouldn't have to worry about jail. They wouldn't see another sunrise. So his wife got 87 momths in jail and has to pay restatution. Did I miss something? They were working in a resturant I really don't think that they have $478,000 laying around. So that part is ridiculous. Every day that he/she is in prison. I think that the cooks should say to them. Hey today might be the day that we put a little extra kick in your food. ENJOY!! I bet they just might think about eating a meal.
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3-25-2011 @9:05PM Linda said... i like your idea while they are n prison.......today might b your lucky day...enjoy your food:)
maybe we should get out the woodchipper and oil it up for people who commit murder or even
attempt it.

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3-25-2011 @9:41PM laura said... Tony I agree, and think it's a shame they are now going to be supported by the penal system. They are scum of the worst order and frankly should have as much consideration given them as they gave to their innocent victims. ...they need to let the victims families have a go at these creeps

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3-25-2011 @2:41PM Tony D said... OOPS restitution
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3-25-2011 @3:03PM Lynn said... I have never seen a white person work at a mexican restaurant yet. even at our local taco bell it is all mexicans.. so put two and two together .. and if they are illegal they would still spend time in jail then be deported......
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3-25-2011 @3:24PM Jack said... I hear banjo music .....

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3-25-2011 @3:55PM YID said... I have seen a white person work at a Mexican Restaurant...

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3-25-2011 @5:20PM David said... Lynn honey, I worked at a mexican restaurant and I'm 100% american. My roots go back to Elbridge Gerry who signed the decleration of Independence. Generalities like yours are uneducated and pathetic..not to mention racist. Hey, I worked in a couple of deli's. I guess that automatically means I'm jewish. You people are repulsive.
As far as what happened I sometimes can't believe the things people do when they're angry. Hurting innocent people to get back at their former boss is just sick and juvenile.
Oh and by the way, I make my own salsa and it is absolutely delicious. Does that mean that somehow some mexican blood slipped into my families bloodline somewhere along the way?

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3-26-2011 @6:35AM WOLFETN said... .The only workers at our local Taco Bell (by the way TACO BELLS aren't
Mexican restaurants, they're American restaurants trying to BE Mexican
restaurants) are black and white.

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3-25-2011 @2:49PM david mcdonald said... As punishment they should have to eat the salsa with every meal until it is gone .
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3-25-2011 @3:01PM Lori said... I am from Kansas City and I have been in the restaurant industry for the better part of the last 20 years and have eaten at Mi Ranchito on more than one occasion.
First of all, this happened nearly 2 years ago. And the names were published at that time. Repeatedly.
Secondly, the remorse and humility that the owners showed over this isolated incident is unheard of.
Lastly, if you think that Kansas is the only state that deals with disgruntled restaurant employees you are wrong. I challenge each of you reading this to work in a restaurant for one week. I would like to think that your whole perspective of what it takes to get food to your table would change.
Don't be so quick to judge if you can't relate.
Just to be clear, I am by no means condoning what happened.
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3-25-2011 @3:03PM Pagan said... @ Laura; The woman's name is De La Torre. You figure out what her ethnic background is.
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3-25-2011 @4:06PM Caryn said... For crying out loud - it doesn't matter the ethnicity of the person - it's the fact that these two people, husband and wife conspired to poison the Salsa - that's attempted murder and 5 - 8 years is not long enough for these perverts - they should be made to eat the fruit of their poisons - that would be just - yeah I know, we can't do that - but 5-8 years? Anyone of those patrons could have died - and they poisoned little kids and seniors as well - No wonder the husband was fired - this is his mentality?

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3-25-2011 @4:08PM lita said... Well, bright boy. Mexico isn't the only place with Spanish surnames. Most of the countries south of the Rio Grande are Spanish-speaking, as well, as, uh, Spain. And a Spanish surname is not synonymous with illegal (undocumented, really) people.