Health Department employees get food poisoning at holiday party

Summary

A New Mexico health department holiday party turned ironic when many employees fell ill after eating food from a Santa Fe sandwich company. The department investigated the food poisoning, identifying cross-contaminated meats as the cause, traced to a common bacteria called Clostridium perfringens. Despite the irony of this happening at a health department event, officials emphasized that such foodborne illnesses are common, with about 1 million cases recorded yearly by the CDC. The department is now working with the restaurant to prevent future incidents.

Takeaways

• 😀 The New Mexico Health Department's holiday party was catered by a sandwich company in Santa Fe.
• 😀 The department experienced a food poisoning outbreak affecting 71 employees.
• 😀 The food poisoning was caused by a bacteria called Clostridium perfringens.
• 😀 Lab tests confirmed that cross-contaminated meats were responsible for the outbreak.
• 😀 Deputy State Epidemiologist Joan Baumbach, who conducted the lab tests, also fell ill after the event.
• 😀 Baumbach reported experiencing abdominal cramps and diarrhea for a few hours.
• 😀 Clostridium perfringens food poisoning is common, with around 1 million cases reported annually by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
• 😀 Despite the irony, Baumbach wasn't surprised that food poisoning occurred at a Health Department event.
• 😀 The Health Department and the Environment Department are collaborating with the restaurant to prevent further incidents.
• 😀 The New Mexico Health Department is investigating the cause of the outbreak and working to ensure it doesn't affect others.

Q & A

What caused the food poisoning incident at the New Mexico Health Department?

The food poisoning incident at the New Mexico Health Department was caused by food from a sandwich company in Santa Fe, which was cross-contaminated, leading to an outbreak of Clostridium perfringens bacteria.

How many employees were affected by the food poisoning?

A total of 71 employees at the New Mexico Health Department were affected by the food poisoning.

What is Clostridium perfringens?

Clostridium perfringens is a type of bacteria that commonly causes food poisoning, often due to improper food handling or cross-contamination.

How was the source of the food poisoning identified?

The source of the food poisoning was identified through lab tests conducted by Deputy State Epidemiologist Joan Baumbach, which narrowed down the cause to contaminated meats.

What symptoms did employees experience after consuming the food?

Employees, including Deputy State Epidemiologist Joan Baumbach, experienced abdominal cramps and diarrhea, which lasted for a few hours.

Why is the food poisoning incident considered ironic?

The incident is considered ironic because it occurred at a health department luncheon, an organization that is responsible for ensuring the safety of food in restaurants.

Is food poisoning from Clostridium perfringens a rare occurrence?

No, food poisoning from Clostridium perfringens is quite common. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) records about 1 million cases of it annually.

What measures are being taken to prevent future food poisoning incidents?

The New Mexico Health Department and the Environment Department are working with the restaurant involved to ensure that food safety protocols are improved and that such an incident doesn't happen again.

What was the role of Joan Baumbach in the investigation?

Joan Baumbach, the Deputy State Epidemiologist, conducted the lab tests that identified the cause of the food poisoning and also became ill herself after attending the luncheon.

How did the health department communicate with its employees about the food poisoning incident?

The Department of Health Secretary, Lynn Gallagher, sent an email to employees notifying them about the ongoing investigation into the food poisoning incident and its suspected cause.