REDWOOD CITY - San Mateo County decided Tuesday that Viva Mexico will live on. The popular Mexican food restaurant was suspected of serving bacteria-tinged salsa that may be to blame for a woman's death and more than 200 reports of illness.
County health investigators shut down Viva Mexico Oct. 24, after the death from shigella bacteria poisoning of Constance Williams-Pennel, a Sunnyvale woman who had eaten lunch at the popular Mexican food restaurant three days earlier.
The owners have since purchased pans, thermometers and sanitizers and have undergone training on food handling to correct the violations.
''While they remain open, we will remain vigilant upon them,'' said Dean Peterson, division director of environmental health in San Mateo County.
