Church Dinner

  • 209 sick from church dinner; C. perfringens in roast beef and gravy; improper holding temps to blame

    Posted: May 9th, 2012 - 10:21am by Doug Powell

    There’s been a rash of Clostridium perfringens foodborne outbreaks in the past few months. A catered function in Las Vegas, catered tacos at a high school basketball game in South Dakota, even health officials were sickened by a catered meal in Colorado.

    A recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that foodborne illness outbreaks resulting from Clostridium perfringens were often large and caused substantial morbidity from 1998 to 2008.

    According to the researchers, C perfringens is estimated to be the third most common cause of foodborne illness in the United States, causing 1 million illnesses each year.

    So it’s not surprising that C. perfringens was found in the roast beef and gravy that was served at a church dinner in Prince Edward Island two weeks ago, sickening at least 209.

    The Chief Public Health Office continues to investigate the outbreak of food-borne illness related to the roast beef dinner prepared by volunteers of the Princetown United Church on Saturday, April 28.

    Those preparing meals for church suppers or sale of food at any public event are reminded of the importance of reviewing and adhering to proper food preparation, handling and temperature control requirements.

    C. perfringens outbreaks are often the result of improperly cooled food or food held at room temperature for extended periods. That was certainly on my mind as I took the remnants of Sunday’s pork leg roast and turned it into pulled pork with beans and bread, all made from scratch, for dinner Tuesday night. I ensured the temperature didn’t drop below 140F by monitoring hourly with a tip-sensitive digital thermometer, and refrigerated leftovers as soon as dinner was dine.

    I also avoid potlucks.

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    church dinner, Clostridium perfringens, food safety, PEI
  • Probably the roast beef prepared at home not licensed facility; 205 sick from PEI church dinner

    Posted: May 5th, 2012 - 1:37am by Doug Powell

    There are now 205 illnesses from a church dinner in Prince Edward Island, up from 160.

    The Chief Public Health Office began investigating a potential gastrointestinal outbreak Monday after notification that several people became ill after consuming a roast beef dinner prepared by volunteers as part of a fundraiser for Princetown United Church on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

    Information obtained by interviewing persons who purchased the meal indicates that the roast beef was the most likely source of the food-borne illness. Those who picked up their meal early in the afternoon were less likely to have become ill. Food testing is being conducted and it is expected to be several days before all results are known.

    During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the roast beef was prepared at various sites including the homes of volunteers. This is contrary to the regulations for preparing meals for sale to the public. High-risk foods such as meat, poultry and fish must be cooked and prepared in a licenced facility.

    A licence for sale of food for a church supper or community fundraiser can be obtained by contacting the Environmental Health Office of the Department of Health and Wellness which will conduct an inspection. Food handling and proper preparation procedures will be reviewed when the licence is issued.

    In addition, it is recommended that persons who participate in serving or distribution of meals for the public participate in a food safety course which is offered free of charge by Environmental Health.

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    church dinner, food safety, License, Outbreak, PEII
  • Clostridium perfringens suspected in Kansas turkey church dinner outbreak, 179 now sick

    Posted: November 24th, 2010 - 10:28am by Doug Powell

    That Kansas turkey church dinner outbreak mentioned in today’s USA Today was probably caused by Clostridium perfringens, highlighting the need for proper cooling after cooking and sufficient reheating.

    The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and City-Cowley County Health Department, with assistance from the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the cooperation of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arkansas City, have been conducting an investigation of a foodborne illness outbreak associated with the Sacred Heart Turkey Dinner that was held on the evening of November 8.

    Since that date, 179 people individuals who attended this event have reported becoming ill, with one requiring hospitalization. Preliminary results from initial testing indicate that the illness is due to exposure to toxin produced by bacteria called Clostridium perfringens; however, further results are still pending.

    Many Clostridium perfringens outbreaks are associated with inadequately heated or reheated beef, turkey or chicken, allowing the bacteria to multiply to high levels. Once eaten, the bacteria produce a toxin that can lead to illness.

    Incubation period, or the time from eating a contaminated food to onset of symptoms, is usually about six to 24 hours; however, this can vary depending on the amount of bacteria present.
     

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    church dinner, Clostridium perfringens, food safety, kansas, Turkey
  • Kansas church dinner toll climbs

    Posted: November 17th, 2010 - 10:52pm by Doug Powell

    There are now at least 159 individuals have reported becoming ill, with one hospitalization, following a Kansas church dinner earlier this month.

    The Sacred Heart Turkey Dinner that was held on the evening of November 8, 2010, in Arkansas City, KS, had over 1,800 people in attendance.

    The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and City-Cowley County Health Department, with assistance from the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the cooperation of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arkansas City, are continuing to conduct an investigation of a possible foodborne illness outbreak, and are asking for the public’s help in completing a survey to identify the source of the outbreak.

    “It’s really important that everyone who attended the dinner or consumed food prepared for the event complete this survey or contact the health department,” said Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, Kansas State Health Officer and Director of KDHE’s Division of Health. “Regardless of whether you’ve become sick, the information you provide will help us better understand what may have caused this gastrointestinal outbreak.”

    The KDHE survey is available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SacredHeartDinner.
     

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    church dinner, Epidemiology, food safety, kansas, Survey
  • Let health refs call potlucks

    Posted: January 29th, 2010 - 11:00pm by Doug Powell

    Four years ago, Brae Surgeoner and Ben Chapman wrote in the Wisconsin State Journal that health inspectors should oversee any commercial potluck or community function to make sure that everyone follows the rules.

    Umpires and inspectors alike are not there to control the game, just to ensure it is being played right.

    The Patriot-News in Pennsylvania reports     that even though the state capital cafeteria was closed because it was such a dump, legislators, led by Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Beaver, got around to introducing legislation to bring what he calls common sense into the state's food safety laws.

    His bill, Senate Bill 828, would allow nonprofit groups, including church groups, Boy Scouts and youth sports teams, to sell homemade baked goods provided they put the consumer on notice that the food was made in an unlicensed, uninspected kitchen.

    The Rev. Michael Greb, the pastor at St. Cecilia's in Rochester, said he was pleased that something was being done "to take out the controversy over eating dessert" at future Friday fish fries, a fundraising tradition that the 3,000-member parish has held for decades to help keep its doors open.

    Greb said he understands the food safety inspectors' concern, but "these are our own people making these desserts out of their love for community. They weren't out to hurt anybody. ... The [desserts] people bring in notoriously are clean and good, and to imply anything other than that is just ridiculous."

    I’ll be ridiculous. Faith aside – and the vast majority of food transactions are based on faith – as a parishoner I would have no idea of the sanitation, handwashing or food safety of the good folks preparing the food. I would want someone – or the threat of someone – to oversee food prep for commercial sale.

    The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that the Governor's Food Safety Council voted Wednesday to oppose any efforts to loosen regs on local sales.

    Rep. Sue Wallis, R-Recluse, said, "The bottom line is I think I should be able to buy good wholesome food from my neighbor without the government interfering."

    People know their neighbors and know what they are buying, she said. It also was absurd to regulate non-hazardous breads, jams and pies sold at bake sales and charitable events, she said.

    "You're 19 times more likely to get sick from mass-produced-and-processed food," she added. "I think I have a constitutional right to buy what I want and to feed my family fresh, healthy food."

    There is no basis for that statement.

    And as Chapman and Surgeoner wrote, Food safety isn't a game, but having the health umpires around to make sure things are running smoothly isn't a bad thing.

     

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    church dinner, food safety, inspector, Potluck