Thursday, September 7, 2017

Guelph-area pig roast sickens dozens

The Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph health unit has finally revealed that a pig roast somewhere in the county sometime this summer sickened at least 24 people.

The health unit says the pork was at fault.

It does not name the company that catered the event, does not say where it was held or when it happened. So if you're looking to hire a pig-roast caterer, just cross your fingers that you don't pick this one.

What the health unit has said is the following:

A total of 82 individuals attended the event and Public Health interviewed 74 of them. Thirty-three per cent of those people reported getting sick.

“The inspection and epidemiological investigation indicate pork as the source of illness.” 

An inspection of the unnamed Guelph caterer for the pig roast found “a number of items” not in compliance with regulations, including hazardous food not being maintained at four degrees Celsius or lower during transportation, poor sanitary maintenance and lack of supplies in the staff washroom.

Dr. Doug Powell, who earned his doctorate in food safety communications at the University of Guelph, reports the news on his website this week and concludes that the health unit ought to “name and shame” those responsible.

He commented on the tardy and incomplete health unit saying "Guess everybody was off for the summer."