Meat served at firefighter's fundraiser source of E. coli O157:H7; sickens 27
Pamela Sage told California’s Contra Costa Times that it's hard to believe tri-tip served at a Sept. 6 benefit barbecue to support volunteer firefighters made at least 27 people sick with E. coli O157:H7.
Sage said if the bacteria really did come from the meat or other food served at the event, she and the other firefighters would be glad to take responsibility for it, but the meat was handled with great care, meat thermometers were used to ensure it was done, and it was served with tongs. Sage also said the Public Health Department had acted irresponsibly in identifying the tri-tip as the source of the bacteria when officials still weren't sure.
That was two weeks ago.
On Monday, Butte County Public Health confirmed that E. coli O157:H7 grown form leftover samples of the tri-tip meat were a genetic match with samples from sick people.
Epidemiology remains a powerful tool.
Dr. Mark Lundberg, Butte County health officer said it's still not known how the cooked meat became contaminated, and it may never be known.
Food preparers at the event had the right equipment and, according to interviews, seemed to do everything right, he said, but obviously something went wrong.
When large amounts of food are prepared there is the potential for contamination, he said. It's possible the cooked meat came into contact with juices from the raw meat. Or possibly, he said, someone who helped prepare the food was sick and didn't wash his or her hands properly.
Bill Marler says an intact cut like tri-tip could became contaminated during the tenderizing process.
E. coli toll linked to firefighter fundraiser in Calif. grows to 13
Butte County Health Officer Dr. Mark Lundberg said Thursday that the number of cases of E. coli amongst the 300 or so who attended a barbecue fundraiser Sept. 6 in Forest Ranch to benefit the volunteer fire department has grown to 13.
Action News reports,
One of the infected is a 6-year-old girl named Olivia. She and her family have been sick for several days. They learned of the E.coli outbreak on Action News at Eleven Wednesday night. Thursday afternoon, Olivia was airlifted to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento where she will be cared for in the pediatric intensive care unit. Her family says she was diagnosed with kidney decline, which could lead to kidney failure.
Olivia's mother, Kimberli Titus says she, her daughter and her mother have made three trips to the emergency room this week. They have been extremely sick, and until seeing the story on Action News, they couldn't figure out what was wrong. "She's weaker, and weaker every day and she can't even lift her head. And she does not feel well."
The food for the BBQ was purchased from Cash-N-Carry in Chico.
Health officials are still trying to determine what food made people sick. Among items on the menu at the barbecue were chicken, potato salad, beans, hot dogs, veggie burgers, chips and tri-tip, he said. People who became ill are being asked what they ate at the fundraiser.
