South Dakota

  • Clostridium perfringens in tacos fingered as source that sickened 50 at South Dakota basketball game

    Posted: February 7th, 2012 - 2:04am by Doug Powell

    Laboratory testing by the South Dakota Department of Health has identified Clostridium perfringens as the cause of the outbreak associated with the Pierre-Mitchell high school boys' basketball game held in Pierre, Jan. 31.

    KSFY ABC reports the investigation, which included voluntary questionnaires, implicated tacos as the source food of the outbreak; of those completing questionnaires, 75 per cent who ate the tacos reported becoming ill.

    The outbreak follows a similar C. perfringens outbreak in Las Vegas before Christmas in which ham was held at improper temperatures and inadequately reheated, sickening at least 21 people. As noted in the Las Vegas outbreak, the majority of C. perfringens outbreaks are often the results of improperly cooled food or food held at room temperature for extended periods.

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    Other Microorganisms  |  0 Comments
    Basketball, Clostridium perfringens, food safety, pierre, south dakota, taco, will ferrell
  • Salmonella in South Dakota; 4 kids confirmed ill, at least 20 suspected

    Posted: November 24th, 2010 - 2:25pm by Doug Powell

    Brown County, South Dakota, is reporting four children with confirmed Salmonella casesin in the past week and at least 20 other children have been ill, but not confirmed.

    The source of the has not been identified. Through November 23, a total of 154 cases of salmonellosis were reported in South Dakota for the year. Of these 154 cases, 23 (15%) have been from BrownCounty. Statewide 31% of the Salmonella cases have been children 14 years and younger.

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    Children, food safety, Outbreak, salmonella, south dakota
  • Laws don’t make food safe, people do

    Posted: July 23rd, 2010 - 7:43am by Doug Powell

    A new state law in South Dakota has state regulators adding new requirements to help ensure safety at local farmers markets.

    After taking effect July 1, local food vendors that work out of their home kitchens and not commercial kitchens will now have to label their products with ingredients, contact information and submit their recipes for testing to help ensure better safety.

    State Representative Jacqueline Sly, R-Rapid City, the prime sponsor of the bill that became law, said,

    "In this day in age with looking at food safety and allergies, we want to protect producers and consumers. I know it's a little more work, but in the long run it would be worth it if there were people who got sick."

    Joan Hegerfeld-Baker, an Extension food safety specialist in Brookings, said,

    "There are a lot of people who really haven't learned properly. There are shortcuts people are starting to use that are not safe. You want people to use safe, tested methods."

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    farmers', food safety, markets, south dakota