Between August 24 and August 27, Minnesota local health departments noted a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 cases in Douglas and Pope County. All five cases required hospitalization due to the severity of the infection. Epidemiologists performed routine E. coli victim interviews and discovered all five case-patients had eaten at the China Buffet in Alexandria, MN. An inspection of the restaurant noted many violations, including evidence of poor personal hygiene; cross-contamination between ready-to-eat foods and raw meats; improper food storage; and improper cleaning of preparation surfaces.