In December 2011, Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department (HSPHD) investigated an outbreak of norovirus at a restaurant in Plymouth, Minnesota, Fourteen outbreak associated cases were identified, including 7 employees. Six of the seven dining patrons ate at the restaurant on December 6. One person who ate at the restaurant on December 16 submitted a stool specimen which tested positive for norovirus GII. Six of the employees reporting vomiting and/or diarrhea with illness onset dates ranging from December 7 to December 9. Of the six, three were serveres, one was a bartender and two were kitchen staff. The seventh person (kitchen staff) reported cramps only on December 11. All seven of the ill patrons and four employees reported consuming a variety of salads, but no food items were statistically significant in the univariate analysis.

HSPHD- Environmental Health conducted an investigation at the restaurant. Several critical violations were noted including bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods. Immediate action was taken to correct the violation.

Two ill kitchen workers reported that family members had been ill in the week prior to their symptoms. One of these workers prepared salads. Investigators concluded that the likely source of contamination was an infected food worker.