Health dept. sickened by own Christmas party

[Spot's Meow]

For some reason I found this news story much more amusing than I probably should have.

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ill. - Some health department workers in southern Illinois think they may have discovered some contaminated food — at their own office Christmas gathering.

After the Lawrence County Health Department had a buffet for 72 people at a restaurant last week, 42 of the attendees suffered stomach problems, including the head of the department, Phyllis Wells.

For now, Wells says the common denominator appears to be cold diced ham served in the salad bar.

"It may be that just a food handler was sick at the time and handled some of the food they prepped for the meal," she said. "Or maybe it was somebody who was sick who came to it and touched the handle and contaminated it."

There was no answer Monday at the restaurant. Wells says it's her understanding the business hasn't reopened since the outbreak.

The rest of the story is here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28355874/

I feel for the restaurant owner. What awful luck...not only do you contaminate dozens of people, but it's the county health inspectors. So not good.

 

[John Picard]

Oh, the *irony*.

 

[Plecostomus]

That's a riot. Ranks up there with the time the fire-department got a call, turns out it was the fire-department building that was burning.

 

[Rÿcher]

did they let their own chicken thaw out on the counter?

tsk tsk.

 

[jamestyler]

Brilliant luck.

That reminds me of a time I was pulled into the office to get a bollocking for taking a couple of days off work for food poisoning, only to tell the boss the only place I had eaten was the cafeteria next to my office.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I liked the CBS News headline: Ill. Health Dept. Throws One Sick Christmas Party