In July 2017, public health officials in Minnesota investigated an outbreak of gastroenteritis among patrons of a restaurant in Minneapolis. The implicated meal date was July 25. Four outbreak associated cases were identified. All cases reported diarrhea and cramps. No cases reported vomiting or bloody stools. The median incubation period was 19.5 hours (range, 12.5 to 25 hours). No one was hospitalized and no one died.

Twenty-three restaurant patrons were interviewed including 19 controls. Cases and controls reported eating a wide variety of food. No food item was significantly associated with illness.

Minneapolis Health Department health inspectors visited the restaurant to conduct environmental assessments. No issues with cooling or hot holding were identified.

The etiology was not identified, but the distribution of incubations, symptoms, and illness durations were characteristic of bacterial intoxication caused by Clostridium perfringens or the diarrheal form of Bacillus cereus. The vehicle of transmission was not identified.