In September 2017, people from multiple groups became ill after eating boxed lunches. Meals were purchased on September 13 or September 14. Two locations of the deli were implicated, one in St. Paul and one in Spring Lake Park. A total of 21 cases were identified. No one was hospitalized and no one died. Two stool specimens were positive for norovirus GII.P16-Gii.4 Sydney.

Ill patrons consumed items in the "Plan B" lunch box which consisted of a sandwich, deli salad (potato, coleslaw, or pasta), fruit, and a brownie. Consumption of fruit (13 of 16 cases vs. 0 of 4 controls; OR, undefined; p=0.007) was statistically associated with illness. Consumption of pasta salad (13 of 17 cases vs. 1 of 4 controls; OR, 9.8; 95% CI, 0.8 to 121.8; p=0.09) ora brownie (9 of 16 cases vs. 0. of 4 controls; OR, undefined; p=0.09) had elevated odds ratios.

Employees at both the St. Paul location and the Spring Lake Park location were interviewed. Of the 24 employees of the St. Paul location, 5 reported recent gastrointestinal illness including one employee who vomited at the facility on September 12. Ten of 11 Spring Lake Park employees were interviewed. One employee reported chronic diarrhea due to irritable bowel syndrome. During the environmental health assessment, it was noted that there was no sanitizer in the sanitizer bucket.

No employees were shared between the two locations. The only food that is shared was the pasta salad which was made at the St. Paul location.

While the vehicle of transmission was not confirmed, the most likely explanation for the outbreak was one or more ill food workers at the St. Paul location who contaminated pasta salad.