Staph germ sickened 120 at Piqua McDonald's, findings indicate
By Nancy Bowman
Dayton Daily News-Oct.8,2004
PIQUA | Preliminary test findings indicate that a staphylococcus organism, growing in an ice cream machine because of a mechanical malfunction, sickened more than 120 people, the city health director said Thursday.
The machine used in preparing ice cream, shakes and sundaes at the McDonald's at 995 E. Ash St. was shut down Saturday and has been replaced with a new machine, said Greg Dion, city director of health and sanitation.
Dion said preliminary findings released Thursday are based on food samples tested at the Ohio Department of Health and interviews with people who became ill. Other findings will be released when results of other tests, such as stool samples, are received. Dion said "some notices of violations" are likely after all results are analyzed.
Dion could not yet say how long the machine had been malfunctioning. How the organism was introduced into the machine also has not been determined. He said corrective measures already taken include identifying faults in operating procedures and comprehensive employee training for operating the new machine.
Benny Scott, owner/operator of the business, issued a written statement saying as soon as the business learned of a possible problem, it immediately stopped sales of the ice cream products. "Rest assured, nothing is more important to me than the safety and well-being of my customers," Scott said. The restaurant, Scott and McDonald's Corp. of Oak Brook, Ill., are named as defendants in two lawsuits filed in Miami County Common Pleas Court. Both seek designation as class actions.
On Sunday, the health department reported that about 30 people were known to have become ill and sought treatment at area hospitals. The number grew as the week progressed to 121 by late Thursday afternoon. Symptoms reported were diarrhea, vomiting, cramps and nausea.
Dion said those who became ill ranged in age from 18 months to 81 years.
"It is like any other illness. It varies from person to person. We have had people who consumed the product who did not become ill," Dion said.
The Piqua Health Department can be contacted at 778-2060.
Contact Nancy Bowman at 335-4357.