Church potluck dinner in New Brunswick investigated after one person dies, dozens more ill

On Friday, December 5, more than 100 people gathered at Nackawic Community Hall for a turkey dinner sponsored by a local church.

In the hours following the traditional meal of turkey, vegetables, gravy and pies, dozens of those attendants fell ill. About 30 people reported signs of gastrointestinal illness, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

On Monday morning, 87-year-old Bessie Scott died. Early autopsy reports suggest a gastrointestinal illness could be to blame, although the health department is still investigating.

Public health officials have taken samples of the dinner’s leftovers and are trying to determine the exact cause of the infections.

"All the types of food that were served, how those foods were prepared, the sources of each of those foods, where they came from in terms of grocery stores versus home-made versus…all of those elements are being looked at," Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health, told CTVNews.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, “Outbreaks often happen in institutions, including hospitals, cafeterias, prisons, catering firms, schools and long-term care facilities. In these institutions, large amounts of food may be prepared in advance and kept warm (20 C to 60 C) until meal time. This allows the bacteria to multiply.”

Russell told CBC News that the kind of bacteria they’re looking for is most likely Clostridium perfringens, a spore-forming bacteria that produces toxins in the intestinal tract.

Foods commonly linked to the bacteria are high in starch or protein, like thick soups, stews and gravies, as well as raw meat, dried or pre-cooked foods, cooked beans and meat pies.

E. coli has been ruled out because of how quickly the symptoms showed up in all affected: Within 24 hours. E. coli symptoms can take three to four days to show up.

Seniors, children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk of becoming sick — and developing complications — from food poisoning.

According to New Brunswick’s health department, there are currently no laws governing events like community potluck dinners, although free food-service education is available.

"So that means any organization, any not for profit or church organization, community organization…health inspectors are willing and able, at any time, to go and give these food handling safety courses for no charge," Russell said.

In an email to Yahoo Canada News, Russell said that the NB Department of Health is continuing to investigate, in order to determine exactly what made everyone sick, and what food was potentially contaminated.

Learn more about food safety over at Health Canada.