Salmonell Associated with Pulled Pork Sold at Georgia Festival
According to the East Metro Health District, health inspectors have associated the October outbreak of Salmonella in Newton County, Georgia, with consumption of pulled pork sold by the Covington Lions Club at Sherman's Last Burning, a local festival.
The East Metro Health District report, according to www.covnews.com, states that “a total of 67 illnesses (salmonellosis) were reported among attendees at the event, which took place from Oct. 12-14 at the Newton County Fairgrounds, and that stool cultures from 17 of the cases tested positive for Salmonella Newport. Of those 67 reported cases, 28 individuals sought medical attention and five people were hospitalized.”
There were no environmental samples from the food sold at the festival available for testing; however, statistical analysis points to pulled pork sold by the Covington Lions Club at the festival.
According the health district report, the Salmonella contamination may be related to the lack of a food license and health permits and to a lack of hand washing facilities.
- The barbecue was prepared by a competitive barbecue team, BareKnuckles BBQ, that was not required to have a food license because the team does not operate as a caterer.
- Because Sherman's Last Burning was classified as a "fair or festival" no health permits were required though the event was permitted by the city of Covington.
- No hand washing facilities were available for the general public.
This Salmonella outbreak points to the need for tougher food safety regulations for fairs and festivals in Georgia and all events involving volunteer food handlers.
Pritzker Law a leading food safety litigation law firm, has significant experience with Salmonella lawsuits. The firm recently settled a Salmonella case involving illness associated with a restaurant. In that case, as in this, no environmental samples tested positive for Salmonella. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online free case consultation form.
