Officials say at least 17 sickened from Thanksgiving meal

“Anyone with food from this event should not eat it, and should throw it away,” McNitt told a news conference Tuesday. “This is likely a food-borne illness, but our investigation is ongoing.”

The food came from a variety of sources. There were turkeys, hams and sweet potato dishes donated by volunteers who cooked them at home and other items that were prepared on-site, like instant mashed potatoes and stuffing, gravy and green beans that came from packages and were reheated, said Dr. Marilyn Underwood, environmental health director for Contra Costa Health Services.

Officials had initially said Monday that eight people got sick, including the three who died, and thought all those sickened lived at the same assisted living facility, leading to suspicion that they could have become sick from food eaten at home or elsewhere.

But by Tuesday, as the numbers increased, officials learned that the 17 people were residents from at least three assisted living facilities. Not all 17 attended the church meal; some were family members of people who worked at the facilities who ate leftovers brought home to them.

Some of them, including the three who died, lived at facilities called Minerva’s Place and Minerva’s Place IV in Antioch, the East Bay Times reported.

“It’s tragic. They were thinking that they would have a good Thanksgiving, and now they have passed away,” Emerito Gonzalez, an administrator at the residences was quoted as saying. “I just want to know what happened. I don’t want this to ever happen again.”

Autopsies were being performed Tuesday. Contra Costa County coroner’s officials said they could not release the names of those who died pending notification of next of kin.

Jocelyn Gecker, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Officials say at least 17 sickened from Thanksgiving meal

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