In April 2012 the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) received complaints of illnesses among individuals in three different dining parties who had eaten at the same restaurant located in Mendota Heights. Meal dates were April 14 and April 15. Twelve restaurant patrons were interviewed. Eight met the case definitions. The median incubation period was 15.5 hours (range, 13.5 to 17.5 hours). the median duration of illness was 15 hours (range, 11 to 31 hours). All eight cases reported diarrhea. Three stool specimens submitted by ill patrons were positive for Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin Type A. No one was hospitalized. All recovered.

Due to the limited number of controls, the case control study lacked power to detect significant associations with food items. MDH Environmental Health sanitarians inspected the restaurant on April 16. Shredded chicken was found cooling at room temperature on the counter and measured 97 degrees F. Shredded chicken was being hot held on a steam table at 124 degrees F. The previous inspection conducted in January reported that retried beans were not cooled or hot held adequately.

Investigators concluded that time-temperature abuse of retried beans and/or shredded chicken was the likely vehicle of this outbreak.