The Salmonella outbreak at the Ecuadorian street festival in Minneapolis, MN in August was likely caused by roasted pork that was resold, not roasted guinea pigs as was originally thought, according to the Star Tribune. The organizer, New York Plaza Produce, has gone out of business. The company was fined for illegal slaughter of guinea pigs as food. And meat that is purchased at retail markets shouldn’t be resold.
The pathogenic bacteria was traced to three roasted pigs purchased from a barbecue restaurant in Minneapolis, then resold. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture found that the pork had low levels of Salmonella when it was purchased, but the bacteria grow and cross-contaminated other foods when it was being handled by New York Plaza Produce employees. The preparation and serving time was a “multi-hour process”, according to an Ag Department Investigator. Holding the meat at too low of a temperature and improper handling most likely contaminated other foods.
At least 80 people were sickened in the outbreak after the street fair, which was held on August 11, 2013. Food Poisoning Bulletin contacted the Minnesota Department of Agriculture with questions about this outbreak, but those questions have gone unanswered.
