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Apart from the use of common towels and the absence of hot water over the lavatory basins
in the staff water-closet compartments, the large old-fashioned type kitchen was found to be in a
reasonably clean condition.
Attention was drawn to these two defects for immediate remedy.
INCIDENT 5.
On the 18th July, it was reported by a firm in the City that a number of their employees were
affected with symptoms usually associated with food poisoning. The outbreak was restricted to
those using the Company's canteen.
Enquiry revealed that in all probability the consumption of steak pie was the cause of the
outbreak.
The steak had been purchased from a reputable butcher. A contributary feature was the
preparation of the steak. The meat was cooked on the 16th July; stored in the open kitchen
overnight; re-heated on the 17th July and then served.
The number of consumers at risk was 140 of whom 27 were affected.
No portion of the steak pie was available for examination but in the endeavour to identify
the agent causing the outbreak, a specimen of the faeces of one of the complainants was obtained.
Cultures from this yielded a profuse growth of heat resistant CI. Welchii.
Since several of those affected had eaten a proprietary cream in addition to the steak pie, a
sample of this was also examined but with negative results.
There is little doubt that if the steak had been cooked and eaten the same day instead of
being cooked the day before, stored overnight and re-heated and served the next day, the outbreak
would not have occurred.
The caterers were warned of the danger of storing cooked meat foods in the open kitchen
overnight. If it is not to be served the same day it must be placed in the refrigerator to prevent
the growth and multiplication of any sporing organisms such as Clostridium Welchii which survive
the cooking.
The Kitchen, its equipment and the dining room are maintained in a very cleanly condition.
INCIDENT 6
On Friday, 28th September, a telephone message was received from the manager of a restaurant
in the City, stating that a number of the service staff had complained of feeling unwell
after having their lunch on the previous day.
There is an extensive menu available at this restaurant and the staff have a freedom of
choice from the menu for their mid-day meal.
The staff affected were 7 members of the service staff, i.e. staff who take the food from the
kitchen to waitresses1. If they are carrying out their job efficiently they should have little or no
contact with the food.
The course of the illness appears to have been mild, all of them suffering from abdominal
pain and diarrhoea to a certain extent. From enquiries made, the staff erave the impression that
they were not unduly distressed. The average time from consuming the meal to the onset of
symptoms was 8.2 hours, and the duration varied from 12 hours upwards.
The meal in question was corned beef salad, and the only item in common was the corned
beef. This is brought about by some people removing beetroot or tomato or some other part of the
salad to which they had a particular dislike.
350 portions of corned beef salad were made up and served during Thursday. 5 tins of
corned beef were used, and the remaining slice of the fifth tin was sent to the bacteriologist for
examination. The tins are alleged to have been opened at approximately 8.30 a.m. on Thursday,
and kept at a normal room temperature for the 3 — 4 hours that elapsed to lunch time. There
appears to be very little possibility of a tin remaining in stock for any length of time as they have
weekly deliveries of 2 — 3 cases.
The chef was interviewed about the procedure of preparation, but there do not appear to be
any points over which we could take exception. On the contrary, the salad preparation is allocated
more or less permanently to one person, and this should have the effect of limiting any
trouble — always provided, of course, that the person is free from infection.
The report from the bacteriologist on the portion of corned beef indicates that there were no
organisms associated with food poisoning in this specimen.
INCIDENT 7.
On Tuesday, 18th December 45 of 81 persons who lunched in the canteen of a Society in the
City became ill with abdominal pains and diarrhoea. The menu was a plain one of roast beef,
Yorkshire pudding, vegetables, tinned fruit and custard.
6.