In July 2011, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Winona County Community Services (WCCS) investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections associated with a Mexican restaurant located in Winona. Meal dates ranged from June 26 to July 1.

Eight primary and two secondary cases were identified. Two cases were hospitalized. No one died.

An inspection of the restaurant by a WCCS sanitarian identified five critical and six non-critical violations. Violations identified included an observed lack of handwashing, bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, potentially hazardous foods with no date markings, and raw animal foods stored with ready-to-eat foods. Management and employees were educated on proper handwashing, closely monitoring employee illness, proper cleaning and sanitizing of surfaces, storage of raw and ready-to-eat foods and minimizing bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.

Three food workers at the restaurant tested positive for S. Typhimurium.

The ultimate source of the outbreak was not determined; however, plausible sources include undercooked foods of animal origin, cross contamination from raw or undercooked foods of animal origin to ready-to-eat foods, or contamination of foods by an infected food worker.