New California law cooks up raw controversy

Caesar salads containing raw eggs are served in California only when requested by the customer

March 28, 1998
Web posted at: 8:45 p.m. EST (0145 GMT)

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN)-- A new food safety law in California is getting mixed reviews.

The regulation dictates that food be thoroughly cooked and forbids certain raw foods.

The law is aimed at preventing illnesses such as salmonella bacteria, which sickens 40,000 Americans each year. But some cooks complain the law is tying their hands in the kitchen.

Local health inspectors are making sure restaurants prepare meat, poultry eggs to specific temperatures. Thermometers are used to check that cooked meat reaches a temperature of 157 degrees Fahrenheit.

Some chefs have been forced to rewrite their recipes. Caesar salad dressings are traditionally made with a raw egg.

Health inspectors use thermometers to check that cooked meat reaches 157 degrees

But that will no longer happen in California restaurants unless the customer specially requests it that way. One chef now substitutes a cooked, diced egg.

Patrons are also in for some surprises. All hamburgers, for example, will now arrive well-done unless a patron specially asks for rare or medium rare.

There are some exceptions to the prohibition of certain raw foods. They include foods that are presumed to be raw, such as oysters, sushi, steak tartare and carpaccio.

Correspondent Susan Reed contributed to this report.

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