CPK: We are Cooperating with County Probe

California Pizza Kitchen is cooperating with the food-borne illness investigation at its Walnut Creek restaurant and doing its own investigation.

The Los Angeles-based company released this statement Friday by Rudy Sugueti, regional vice president of operations:

"We are cooperating fully with the health department and, at its direction, have temporarily closed the Walnut Creek restaurant. Our corporate food safety team is on site to assist our regional and local staff with our own internal investigation. We will certainly continue to do whatever is appropriate to ensure the safety and welfare of our customers and employees."

At 5 p.m. Thursday, June 14, county environmental health officials  — with lab results confirming norovirus among customers and workers at California Pizza Kitchen at the South Main Street entrance to Broadway Plaza — suspended the permit of the restaurant. "The serving and selling of food or drink during this period of suspension is unlawful," reads the notice posted on the front door.

Norovirus is a contagious virus that you can get from an infected person, contaminated food or by touching contaminated surfaces. Contra Costa County on Friday posted background on norovirus.

Each year, norovirus causes about 21 million gastrointestinal illnesses, and contributes to about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths, according to the website of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Two Patch readers have emailed in accounts of getting sick after eating at California Pizza Kitchens at Broadway Plaza.