WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsDHEC: Ground beef caused sickness at congressman's dinner

DHEC: Ground beef caused sickness at congressman's dinner

By Brandon Herring - bio | email

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - A report from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reveals what probably caused an outbreak of sickness after a dinner for Congressman Henry Brown in May.

The report, which was made available by Becky Billingsley of Myrtle Beach Restaurant News, also states the person who cooked the food was not a permitted caterer.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the barbeque dinner at the Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel on May 28. DHEC's oubreak after-action report shows at least 35 people reported diarrhea and other stomach problems after the event.

After interviews with people who got sick and others who did not, DHEC investigators determined the problem most likely came from a beans-and-meat side dish.

Tom Eshleman, DHEC's Region 6 Supervisor for the agency's food program, said ground beef was browned prior to the event and refrigerated. Then, just before the event, the beef was left out of refrigeration for too long before it was mixed with the beans for final preparation.

While the beef was unrefrigerated, it grew toxic bacteria Eshleman said.

The report does not identify the person who cooked the food for the dinner. However, the report does state the dinner was "catered by an un-permitted caterer" who was "ill equipped to refrigerate food quantities of this amount."

Eshleman said the person who cooked for the event was not required to have a permit from DHEC. He explained a permit is only required for people who meet three basic criteria:

1. Those who provide food for more than four events year
2. Anyone who advertises as the food provider at an event
3. Anyone who has a business license

Because the cook at the dinner for Brown did not meet those criteria, he did not have to be permitted to cater Eshleman said. Essentially, someone asked a private citizen to prepare the food for the event, Eshleman explained.

"Our advice is always seek out a permitted caterer," Eshleman commented.

Despite the outbreak, Eshleman also explained that the food preparer for the event could not be reprimanded with fines or other disciplinary action.

"He was not operating illegally by DHEC regulations," Eshleman said.

The hotel's general manager Suzanne Hinde said the hotel usually does the catering for events in the building, but an exception was made for the barbeque dinner honoring Brown. Other exceptions have been made in the past she said.

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