Update of Investigation into food poisoning incidents at Pat’s Schoolhouse, The Children’s Place and Learning Vision

Investigation Findings
The investigations have traced the outbreak of food poisoning to the consumption of seafood marinara pasta supplied by the caterer to the pre-schools for lunch on 10 May 2011. The infective agent was Salmonella Enteritidis (a bacteria which can cause food poisoning), found in the stool samples collected from the affected cases. As this organism is not native to seafood but is commonly found in items such as poultry and eggs, there may have been cross-contamination of the pasta with raw food during preparation at the caterer’s premises.

Interviews with the food handlers employed by the caterer indicated that the same trays were used to hold raw and cooked foods, which may be a possible cause of cross-contamination, if the trays were not cleaned properly. Meat, seafood and poultry were also being prepared in the same area, which increases the risk of cross-contamination. 

Qi Yin