Outbreaks
Old South Restaurant Salmonella Outbreak
On Sunday, May 22, 2005, the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) was alerted to a possible outbreak of foodborne illness centered at Old South restaurant in Camden, South Carolina. DHEC officials commenced their investigation the same afternoon. The outbreak they would soon confirm turned out to be one of the biggest in South Carolina history.Laboratory results from DHEC documented the presence of Salmonella enteritidis in roasted turkey that had been eaten at an event catered by Old South, and during the course of a DHEC investigation, Old South employees discovered that the convection oven they had used to cook the contaminated turkey had malfunctioned, thus preventing the turkey from reaching a temperature sufficient to kill Salmonella. More specifically, two of the oven’s three heating elements were inoperable during the outbreak exposure period, leaving only one element to warm the oven. Nonetheless, and by design, the green indicator light on the oven’s control panel remained lit, thus preventing Old South employees from learning of the malfunction.
A total of 304 confirmed and suspected cases were identified during the course of the investigation, and one man died as a result of his infection. The restaurant remained closed during the investigation, re-opening on June 10, after employees had completed food safety training.
Outbreak Updates
- DHEC Investigating 40 Cases of Food Poisoning
- Camden restaurant closes after food poisoning investigation
- Possible salmonella outbreak probed
- Dozens Sickened With Salmonella At S.C. Restaurant
- Kershaw County Coroner confirms death related to salmonella poisoning
- One Killed, 150 Sickened By Salmonella Poisoning, Victims Found Across State
- 204 people report symptoms of salmonella poisoning
- Number affected by salmonella rises
- Salmonella outbreak traced to bad turkey
- Restaurant Makes Statement on Salmonella Outbreak
- Old South restaurant workers take lessons in food safety
