Catered food causes food poisoning at Seattle temple
One person has been hospitalized and another seventeen are ill as a result of food poisoning linked to food served at two Jewish temples in Seattle. People who attended private parties at Temple Beth Am and Temple Beth Shalom in early March 2018 were taken ill after eating catered food that may have been contaminated with shigella bacteria.
Eric Gorbman Catering, based in Lake Forest Park, provided the food for the events, although some attendees brought their own food as well. Two of the people who became ill worked for the caterer, but it was determined by health officials that their illnesses occurred after the events and they were probably not responsible for the contamination.
Shigella bacteria can spread from one person to another. Party attendees should watch for symptoms, particularly if they associated with those who became ill as a result of eating the catered food. Symptoms of food poisoning caused by the shigella bacteria can last up to seven days.
The bacteria produces toxins that attack the lining of large intestines, so the majority of symptoms are related to the digestive system. The severity of shigellosis is what differentiates it from “normal” diarrhea. The first bowel movements are often large and watery, with subsequent movements containing blood and mucus. Other symptoms of Shigella infection include, but are not limited to:
- Painful bowel movements
- High fever
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea, vomiting
- Loss of appetite
Food safety and poor hygiene can contribute to shigella infections, including a failure to wash hands properly, which results in the bacteria traveling from the stool of one person to the mouth of another.
If you attended either of the private parties at the temples in Seattle or have been in physical contact with anyone who attended the parties, contact the food poisoning lawyers at 1-888-335-4901 to learn more about the shigella contamination.
