The Minnesota Department of Health has determined that the Salmonella outbreak that sickened people who ate at the Old Country Buffet diner in Maple Grove was caused by contaminated dinner rolls. The bread was cross-contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis from raw chicken.
That outbreak sickened at least 36 people in February 2014. One person was hospitalized in this outbreak. People who got sick ate at the restaurant between January 11 and February 11, 2014. Most of the illnesses took place among those who ate there on January 25, 104.
Cross-contamination is often the cause of food poisoning outbreaks. If proper food safety rules are not followed, such as thorough hand-washing after handling raw meats, separating cooked and uncooked foods, and washing utensils and surfaces after raw meat preparation, cross-contamination can easily occur. Employees at the restaurant were retrained in food safety regulations after the outbreak.
Salmonella is found on almost all raw chicken in the United States. Salmonellosis, the illness caused by the bacteria, is characterized by fever, stomach and abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.
