In November 2012, Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health (HSPHD) investigated and outbreak of suspected bacterial intoxications associated with a catered meal provided to a homeless shelter. The implicated meal was served on November 5. Illness histories and exposure information was obtained from 29 persons who had eaten the catered meal. Twenty-two persons met the case definition. Nineteen cases reported vomiting, 10 reported diarrhea, and 2 reported cramps. None reported fever. The median incubation period was 2.75 hours (range, 45 minutes to 6.5 hours).

Cases reported eating a variety of food items including pulled pork sandwiches, pasta with meatballs in sauce, baked beans, coleslaw, cookies, and beverages. Statistical analysis was done but none of the food items were statistically significant.

The manager of the restaurant that catered the meal said the van that carried food was broken on November 5 so the food was transported in a car from the catering facility in Maple Grove to the shelter in downtown Minneapolis. No temperature control measures were put in place during transport and no temperatures were taken before the food left the catering facility. None of the catering staff had eaten the food and none reported illness.

The etiology of the outbreak was not confirmed, but the distribution of incubations and symptoms were compatible with a bacterial intoxication. An environmental inspection revealed the potential for time-temperature abuse.