In Virginia, Chili Cook-off is Site for Salmonella Outbreak

In Virginia, a Volunteer Fire Company's Chili Cook-off is being blamed for dozens of people becoming ill from Salmonella.  The exact food source responsible for the Salmonella contamination has not yet been identified.

You always wonder about eating food at these events - 1) do these cooks, the people making the food, really understand food safety principles, have they been trained in any way, 2) are they implementing those principles - have they taken the necessary precautions to transport and prepare the food for an onsite event such as this, 3) do their normal kitchen handling and preparation procedures adapt in order to make the larger quantities needed for this event, and 4) is the food protected at the event from cross contamination.

While regulations do not require training for these events, training is available.  Penn State offers the Volunteer Food Safety - Cooking for Crowds training.

Virginia Pilot - Local News
https://pilotonline.com/news/local/salmonella-found-in-food-from-chincoteague-chili-and-chowder-cook/article_41d118d2-db5a-57e2-b2e4-2326f39cb161.html
Salmonella found in food from Chincoteague Chili and Chowder Cook-off
By Ryan Murphy
The Virginian-Pilot
Oct 10, 2017 Updated 10 hrs ago
State health officials identified the dangerous foodborne bacteria salmonella in samples from an Eastern Shore cook-off that made dozens of attendees ill.

After the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company’s annual Chowder and Chili Cook-off on Sept. 30, reports started to trickle in about people becoming seriously ill. Enough people fell ill to prompt an investigation from the state Department of Health. Dozens sounded off on social media about gastrointestinal problems.

Around 2,000 people attended the cook-off, many from out of state. Several said on the fire company’s Facebook page that they were too ill to travel home after the event.

The Accomack County Health Department and the Foodborne Disease Team from the Virginia Department of Health are still trying to pin down exactly which food caused the illness.

Health officials urge anyone still experiencing dehydration, vomiting or diarrhea to go to a doctor or hospital.

Around 350 people have responded to a survey the Department of Health put out to try to find the source of the outbreak.

Ryan Murphy, 757-446-2299, ryan.murphy@pilotonline.com